Gasgoo Munich- On April 1, autonomous driving firm WeRide and Southeast Asia's super app Grab announced they have launched a fully public Robotaxi service in Punggol, marking the first time a driverless mobility offering has been opened to everyday users within a residential community in Singapore. Branded as Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride), the service is now available for booking by the general public.
Image source: WeRide
The commercial debut follows months of community engagement and pilot testing. Since January 2026, more than 1,000 trial users—including local residents and community representatives—have taken part in ride experiences, offering feedback that helped refine the service. To date, the Ai.R fleet has logged over 30,000 kilometers of safe driving.
Alongside technology deployment, both companies are investing in workforce transition and skills development as autonomous mobility scales.
During the initial rollout phase, each vehicle is staffed with a trained safety operator to ensure smooth and secure journeys. So far, 14 Grab drivers have completed a joint certification program delivered by WeRide and GrabAcademy, qualifying them as autonomous vehicle safety operators, with additional cohorts currently undergoing training.
The partners have also introduced a remote operator training track, preparing personnel to oversee fleet performance, monitor vehicles in real time, and coordinate dispatch operations from a centralized control center.
Users can register for the service via a dedicated booking portal, with routes designed in consultation with the community to connect residential neighborhoods to key amenities and transport hubs.
During the public trial phase, passengers can choose from multiple route options operating on weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In addition to two full-length shuttle lines, a shorter route of approximately 20 minutes has been introduced to cater to quick, intra-community trips. Rides will remain free until the service enters full commercial operation in mid-2026, allowing operators to gather further user insights and fine-tune pricing strategies.
The launch underscores the partners' broader ambition to scale Robotaxi and autonomous shuttle deployments across Southeast Asia. Notably, the program progressed from achieving Singapore's Milestone 1 (M1) regulatory approval to full public operations in roughly seven months—a timeline that highlights both WeRide's technological readiness and Grab's operational capabilities, as well as close coordination with local authorities.
