🔥 Trending Grab Launches On-Demand Autonomous Vehicle Service in Punggol

Autonomous vehicle (AV) services, specifically autonomous shuttles, are being progressively deployed in Punggol, Singapore, to enhance first-mile-last-mile (FMLM) connectivity for residents ¹². This initiative aims to connect residents to key amenities and transport nodes within the area ¹.

Key Developments and Timeline

The rollout of these services has been a phased approach, with significant milestones:

• September 2025: The deployment was announced at the Autonomous Vehicles Roadshow held at Punggol Digital District on September 20, 2025 ²³. Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai also marked its entry into Singapore and Southeast Asia with the launch of self-driving shuttle services in Punggol on this date ⁵.
• October 2025: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) approved Grab and WeRide to test 11 autonomous vehicles on two Punggol shuttle routes, following initial tests ⁹.
• April 1, 2026: Two of the three scheduled fixed-route autonomous shuttle services (Routes 1 & 3) were opened to the public ³⁶. This was announced by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow ⁶.
• Mid-2026: Revenue service for Routes 1 and 3 is expected to begin, with a flat fare of S$4 per passenger ³. All three autonomous shuttle services are anticipated to be fully operational by mid-2026 ².

Service Details

• Routes: There are three scheduled fixed-route autonomous shuttle services planned for Punggol ¹². Routes 1 and 3 are already operational for public rides as of April 1, 2026 ³⁶.
• Operators: Grab operates two of the three routes, while ComfortDelGro operates the third ¹⁰. Grab's autonomous shuttles have undergone extensive testing, accumulating over 25,000 km of safe autonomous driving ⁶.
• Booking and Tracking: Once the service is fully available, passengers will be able to use the Grab app to check shuttle routes, schedules, seat availability, and track the shuttle's real-time location ⁸.
• Fares: Initially, the public rides on Routes 1 and 3 were free of charge ³⁷. However, revenue service is expected to commence in mid-2026 with a flat fare of S$4 per passenger for these routes ³.

Future Outlook

Officials have indicated an intention to expand autonomous vehicle trials to other parts of Singapore if the Punggol rollout proves successful ¹⁰. This suggests that Punggol is serving as a testing ground for wider adoption of AV technology in public transport.