Punggol to get its first self-driving shuttles, public rides start in just 3 months

January 8, 2026• byChris Peters

Here’s what you can expect from Punggol’s driverless shuttles

The first self-driving shuttle route in Punggol is set to open to the public in two to three months, announced Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling in a Facebook post on Jan 7. The opening comes earlier than the previously expected second quarter of 2026.

A 10km route, it will connect residents of Matilda Court and Punggol Clover with the polyclinic at Oasis Terraces via Punggol Plaza. Each round trip is expected to take around 35 minutes.

Ride-hailing firm Grab will run the service in collaboration with Guangzhou-based autonomous vehicle company, WeRide, through WeRide’s Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Rides) shuttles.

This will be the first of three driverless shuttle routes that will be rolled out in Punggol.

These routes will serve parts of Punggol that are harder to reach by current public transport options, and could save residents up to 15 minutes of travel time.

Five- and eight-seater vehicles, finished in bright purple with an amber roof beacon, will operate along the three routes.

No accidents so far

Safety features of WeRide’s GXR and Robobus vehicles for Ai.R service./ Image Credit: Grab

In the Facebook post, Sun said she hosted union leaders on trial rides of the autonomous shuttle in Punggol. They included representatives from the National Trades Union Congress and its affiliated associations, representing private-hire car drivers and taxi drivers.

The shuttles on the first route have completed mapping and familiarisation, and have “clocked more than 10,000km safely without incident,” Sun said.

Sun shared that starting this month, the Ministry of Transport will be inviting other stakeholders to try out the rides, including key grassroots leaders and agency partners.

“The autonomous shuttles complement our transport system and help enhance first-mile and last-mile connectivity for commuters,” she added.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Jan 7 that these upcoming community rides will help it gather feedback to improve the commuting experience. This phase is a step before commercial operations begin.

Apps will also be rolled out by shuttle operators to allow commuters to check ride availability, Sun said.

For the first route, no pre-booking will be needed. The service is scheduled to run weekdays from 9: 30AM to 5PM, and passengers can check shuttle schedules and track vehicles in real time on the Grab app.

A safety operator will be on board each vehicle at all times to take control if necessary, and passengers will be insured in the event of an accident.

Punggol pilot routes & expansion plans for autonomous shuttles

Sun said that Punggol was chosen as the pilot area due to its compact layout and diverse population. The first autonomous vehicle test took place there in mid-Oct 2025.

LTA had previously granted approval to Grab and WeRide to test 11 shuttles on two routes.

Grab will operate two out of the three planned routes in Punggol, with the second also being 12km long, and will connect Punggol West and Punggol North.

First two self-driving shuttle routes run by Grab and WeRide./ Image Credit: Grab

The third will be run by transport operator ComfortDelGro, using vehicles supplied by Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai. Also 12km long, it will connect Punggol East and Punggol North, with stops at the bus interchange and LRT station.

Both Grab and ComfortDelGro said previously that they aim to have a shuttle arrive every 15 minutes.

In Sept 2025, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow stated that Singapore plans to deploy 100 to 150 self-driving vehicles by the end of 2026, as part of a broader effort to expand autonomous transport across the island over the next five years.

Siow previously said that autonomous vehicles could ease public transport’s manpower challenge. Singapore faces a bus driver shortage due to an ageing workforce and fewer young Singaporeans joining the industry.

However, for current drivers concerned about job security, Sun added that the Ministry of Transport will work closely with union leaders to address their concerns and explore job opportunities.