Grab has rolled out its inaugural autonomous electric shuttle bus in Singapore, kicking off a closely watched pilot with Korean tech partner Autonomous A2Z (A2Z).
The shuttle, powered by A2Z’s autonomous driving stack and Grab’s Internet of Things (IoT) framework, debuts this week on a 3.9 km circuit linking Grab’s one-north headquarters and the one-north MRT station.
Initially, the self-driving bus will ferry Grab employees for two hours daily during off-peak hours, with more time slots under consideration as safety is assessed.
Although fully equipped for autonomy—with 11 sensors granting a 360-degree field of detection—the shuttle will always feature a trained safety driver, underlining Grab’s risk management stance.
Safety remains paramount as Grab experiments with autonomous mobility, said Yee Wee Tang, Grab’s regional head of operations. He stressed that the project serves as a proving ground for the technology’s safety record and the job prospects emerging alongside driverless transit.
For A2Z, the partnership marks the company’s first foray in Singapore and positions the startup to gauge the commercial readiness and operational hurdles of robotic shuttles in a real-world setting. The company sees strong potential for autonomous vehicles to help address workforce challenges in Singapore’s public transport sector, noted managing director Ryan Kim.
As part of the trial, Grab is extending training programs to its driver-partners and members of the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, enabling them to serve as part-time safety drivers. Five participants have already started the program, reflecting early momentum in Grab’s push for workforce adaptation.
The initiative builds on Grab’s earlier work with regional AV specialists and reinforces Singapore’s ambition to become a testing ground for self-driving transport.
