Globenewswire·2025-11-13 07:50Core Insights - WeRide and Grab have received approval from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) to conduct autonomous vehicle (AV) testing with the Ai.R fleet in the Punggol district [1][7] - The AV testing program commenced in mid-October 2025 and aims to increase the number of test runs by up to four times by the end of the year [2][7] - The Ai.R service will be Singapore's first residential autonomous shuttle service, expected to begin public operations in early 2026 [3][6] Company Overview - WeRide is a global leader in autonomous driving technology, having tested or operated vehicles in over 30 cities across 11 countries, and is the first publicly traded Robotaxi company [11] - Grab operates as a superapp in Southeast Asia, providing services across deliveries, mobility, and digital financial sectors, serving over 800 cities in eight countries [12][15] Testing and Operations - The Ai.R fleet consists of 11 AVs, including 10 GXRs and one Robobus, designed to serve two dedicated shuttle routes in Punggol [3][6] - During testing, AVs gather real-world data to enhance AI driving models, focusing on local road conditions and user behaviors [8] - The AVs are equipped with a sensor suite for 360-degree vision, capable of detecting objects up to 200 meters away, even in adverse weather [9] Safety and Training - Safety Operators will be present on all AVs during testing and initial public rides to ensure real-time supervision [5][10] - GrabAcademy and WeRide are training over 10 experienced Grab driver-partners as Safety Operators, with the first cohort now in on-road training [10][11] Service Connectivity - The autonomous shuttle service will connect residents to key amenities, including the Punggol Coast MRT station and local malls [6]