JAKARTA - Two Chinese robotaxi companies announced partnerships with Singaporean companies to launch autonomous ride-hailing services in the city-state as part of their expansion of autonomous vehicle technology.
Ride-hailing service operator Grab stated that it will partner with China's WeRide to launch the service next year. Meanwhile, Pony.ai and Singaporean taxi and transportation company ComfortDelGro announced a partnership for a similar service.
Grab stated in a statement that it has been selected by local authorities to operate two autonomous ride-hailing routes in the Punggol area. The service will begin transporting passengers using WeRide's five- and eight-seat models starting in early 2026, following a testing phase to study the routes in detail. In July 2025, WeRide obtained a permit from the Shanghai municipal government to operate an autonomous ride-hailing robotaxi service.
Pony.ai stated that it and ComfortDelGro plan to introduce the autonomous ride-hailing service first in Punggol before expanding to surrounding communities. The service will begin "in the coming months" after obtaining regulatory approval. Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that Pony.ai and ComfortDelGro will operate a 12-kilometer route in Punggol.
The LTA also stated that both WeRide and Pony.ai have a proven track record of implementing autonomous vehicles overseas for various vehicle types, including shuttles and cars. Pony.ai currently operates commercial robotaxi services in China's four largest cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Pony.ai, backed by Toyota Motor, is also exploring the launch of driverless services in South Korea, Luxembourg, the Middle East, and other countries after raising US$260 million through a Nasdaq listing in November 2024. The company plans to expand its robotaxi fleet to 1,000 units before the end of this year.
The Singaporean government is actively exploring autonomous vehicle technology. Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow visited several autonomous vehicle companies in China in June to learn more about the technology.
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