Grab, one of Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platforms, has launched a pilot of its self-driving transportation service in Punggol, Singapore. The project is being carried out in partnership with Chinese robo-taxi operator WeRide and is considered the first autonomous service open to the public in the region.
The pilot program operates on two approved routes and transports passengers to nearby infrastructure facilities. The service is provided by a fleet of 11 driverless vehicles.
During the tests conducted since September, the vehicles have served more than 1,000 passengers and covered more than 30,000 kilometers in autonomous mode.
The move is seen as part of Grab’s strategy to increase its long-term profitability at a time of increasing competition in the region, especially against the backdrop of the fight against GoTo Group.
