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Punggol Chosen for Singapore’s First Self-Driving Shuttle Rollout

 




Singapore’s self-driving public transport vision is taking a major leap forward, with autonomous shuttles set to be deployed in Punggol by the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2025. This announcement was made on June 27, 2025, by Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow during a working visit to Guangzhou, China. The initiative is part of a larger strategy to enhance Singapore’s public transport system through the integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) over the next five years. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is currently working with potential AV makers and public transport operators, including foreign firms like Waymo from the United States, to bring this plan to life. Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling, who was also part of the visit, confirmed that the initial deployment will cover specific routes in Punggol. These routes are being selected based on residents’ feedback. Some residents in Punggol West have expressed a need for better access to amenities in Punggol East, such as polyclinics and wet markets. Others in the eastern part of Punggol have asked for improved connections to transport hubs like bus interchanges. The rollout is intended to be gradual and safety-focused. The first phase will involve short, fixed-route services within HDB estates, acting as a supplement to existing buses, taxis, and private-hire vehicles. Each AV will be manned by a safety officer and painted in bright colours to ensure high visibility. The vehicles will operate at “manageable” speeds, and they will not carry passengers initially. Minister Siow stated that public familiarity and comfort with the presence of these shuttles on the roads must first be established before allowing commuters on board. The Government plans to remove the on-board safety officers in the later stages of deployment, potentially by the third phase, once sufficient public confidence has been built. If successful, passenger services could begin by the end of 2025. Punggol was selected for this launch due to its status as a newer estate with established travel patterns and modern infrastructure, making it a suitable test bed. Looking forward, Tengah has been identified as the next possible location for AV deployment starting in 2026, following the outcome in Punggol. The type of vehicles used will likely start with smaller multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), given the maturity of that segment's technology. These MPVs are favoured for their flexibility and door placement, making them suitable for Singapore’s infrastructure. Cost and scalability are being considered. While the Government may provide short-term funding to help companies bring in AVs, long-term plans involve operators sustaining these services independently. Fare prices are expected to fall between standard public transport rates and those of taxis or ride-hailing services. Minister Siow noted that the AV services are meant to fill gaps in demand particularly for short, low-volume trips that are less appealing to current taxi or private-hire drivers, especially during peak periods. This Punggol deployment is separate from the Land Transport Authority’s ongoing autonomous bus trials, scheduled to begin on selected routes by mid-2026. This dual-track approach allows Singapore to test and scale AV technology across multiple settings more efficiently. During their visit to Guangzhou, the Singapore delegation comprising MOT, LTA, and union representatives visited Chinese companies like WeRide, Pony.ai, and DiDi to observe how AVs are being used in one of the world’s leading cities for autonomous transport. These companies operate fleets of self-driving taxis and shuttle buses and have partnerships with Singapore transport entities like ComfortDelGro and Resorts World Sentosa. Minister Siow concluded that AV technology is now mature enough for large-scale deployment, and Singapore aims to join other global cities already adopting this mode of transport. With the upcoming Punggol launch, Singapore is setting the stage for a new chapter in its transport evolution.


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