Singapore's first Robotaxi officially launched! wen yuan zhi xing (WRD.US, 00800) partners with Grab to start operations.

On April 1st, WeRide (WRD.US, 00800), a global leading autonomous driving technology company, and Grab (GRAB.US), a leading super app in Southeast Asia, announced the official launch of the Ai.R autonomous driving ride service (Autonomously Intelligent Ride) in the Punggol area of Singapore. From now on, the public can experience Singapore's first autonomous public transportation service in residential communities. The full public operation of the Ai.R autonomous driving ride service is built on extensive community communication and testing. Since January 2026, over 1,000 passengers, including Punggol residents and community representatives, have participated in trial rides and provided feedback to continuously improve the autonomous driving service. As of now, the Ai.R autonomous driving fleet has safely traveled over 30,000 kilometers. Dr. Xu Kaixin, general manager of WeRide in Singapore, said: "We are very proud to launch Singapore's first autonomous public transportation service in Punggol, which not only reflects the maturity of WeRide's technology, but also demonstrates our shared vision with Grab to drive the future of urban transportation. Currently, WeRide's Robotaxi GXR is operating regularly in China, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, continuously providing safe and reliable autonomous driving services. As the operation scale in Singapore continues to expand, we look forward to closely collaborating with local regulatory authorities to demonstrate the same high level of operational performance." Alejandro Osorio, managing director of Grab Singapore, said: "We are honored to introduce the first autonomous public transportation service in residential areas, which is not only the realization of cutting-edge autonomous driving technology, but also an important step in promoting the development of technology and community together. By integrating autonomous driving into the daily lives of Punggol residents and helping Grab driver partners transition to new professions, we hope to bring the benefits of technological innovation to more people. Grab looks forward to using this opportunity to create a more inclusive and sustainable transportation ecosystem in Singapore." Supporting drivers in transitioning to new autonomous driving professions While advancing the deployment of autonomous driving technology, WeRide and Grab also place high importance on talent transformation and capacity building. During the initial public operation of the Ai.R project, each autonomous driving vehicle is equipped with a safety officer to ensure smooth and safe travel. So far, 14 Grab drivers have completed joint professional training conducted by WeRide and GrabAcademy to obtain autonomous driving safety certification, and training and assessments for a new batch of drivers are currently in progress. In addition, both parties have initiated a remote safety officer training program, where students will learn how to remotely monitor and control the fleet from the Ai.R operation command center. Vincent Teo, a senior Grab driver who successfully transitioned to a safety officer, is among the first participants in the remote safety officer training. He said: "I am looking forward to the upcoming remote safety officer training. When I first started transitioning, I never thought I would be involved in such an cutting-edge technology field. This is an important milestone for me, and I am proud to bring this future mode of transportation to more fellow Singaporeans." Ridhwan Wajib, a Grab driver who recently transitioned to a safety officer, said: "I am honored to be one of the first participants in Singapore's autonomous driving transportation. It has been a very interesting journey, and I have been sharing my experiences with friends and family. More importantly, I am looking forward to my parents and family experiencing autonomous driving technology firsthand." Invitation to the public to experience the Ai.R autonomous driving ride service The public can register to experience the Ai.R fleet service through a dedicated reservation link on the Ai.R website (rideair.ai). The design of the operation route fully incorporates community feedback, connecting residential areas with major life facilities and transportation hubs. During the public operation period, passengers can choose routes and times flexibly: - Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. - Operation routes: Passengers can choose between two complete autonomous driving shuttle routes. In addition, a short-distance special line of about 20 minutes has been added to meet short travel needs. - Fare description: Before the official commercial operation in mid-2026, passengers can experience the Ai.R autonomous driving ride service for free, aiming to collect more passenger feedback, understand travel needs, further optimize services, and provide more reasonable standards for future discounted fares. Leading the future of transportation The launch of the Ai.R service demonstrates WeRide and Grab's strong determination to deploy Robotaxi and other autonomous shuttle vehicles on a large scale in Southeast Asia. From the evaluation and certification of Milestone 1 (M1) to full public operation, it took only about 7 months, showcasing the efficient deployment pace of WeRide's mature technology base and Grab's strong operational capabilities, as well as the effective collaboration between government and enterprises. As members of the Singapore Autonomous Vehicle Committee, WeRide and Grab will continue to work alongside Singapore government departments to ensure the safe and orderly integration of autonomous vehicles into the national public transportation system.