Grab officially launched its first autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle service on July 9, 2025, transporting employees between its One-North headquarters and the nearby MRT station. The pilot program runs during off-peak hours from 2:00pm to 4:00pm daily and involves a 22-seater electric autonomous bus developed in collaboration with Korean AV manufacturer Autonomous A2Z.
The shuttle service is available exclusively for Grab staff and is not open to the general public. Employees can track the shuttle’s real-time location through the Grab app. A trained safety driver will be onboard at all times to ensure safe operations and intervene if necessary.
The AV shuttle operates on a fixed 3.9km loop that has undergone over 100 hours of route training prior to launch. During this training phase, the vehicle was calibrated to detect and respond to road elements such as lane markings, traffic lights, zebra crossings, and unexpected obstacles like jaywalkers and traffic disruptions. The AV is equipped with 11 sensors providing a full 360-degree view of its surroundings. In the event of any system or sensor faults, built-in safety algorithms will cause the bus to stop completely for safety.
A media demonstration ahead of the launch revealed that the vehicle operates with an abundance of caution. The shuttle was observed stopping completely at zebra crossings even when no pedestrians were nearby. It also avoided lane changes if another vehicle suddenly entered its path, and came to abrupt halts when cyclists or jaywalkers were detected, even from a distance.
During the ride, a display screen inside the vehicle indicated whether the shuttle was in autonomous or manual mode. Other data such as speed, direction, and estimated arrival time were also visible to passengers.
This pilot is part of a broader strategy by Grab and A2Z to explore the commercial potential of autonomous shuttles for solving first- and last-mile transportation gaps, while also addressing manpower challenges in Singapore’s public transport network. According to A2Z’s business and international managing director Ryan Kim, the initiative has been closely coordinated with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and local safety personnel to ensure operational compliance.
Grab stated that operational data, including safety and performance metrics, will be shared with government bodies to support national AV development goals. Singapore is preparing for wider AV deployment, with another trial expected to begin in Punggol in the fourth quarter of 2025. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow previously announced that these vehicles will operate on fixed routes.
Beyond transportation, Grab is also using this pilot to support workforce transformation. The company is currently training five safety drivers and aims to upskill a total of 10 by the end of 2025. Grab’s regional head of operations, Yee Wee Tang, emphasized that safety remains the company’s top priority and noted that the project also offers new employment pathways in the AV sector, particularly for platform workers.
During the ongoing pilot, Grab and A2Z will monitor outcomes closely before deciding whether to extend operational hours or expand the service. The vehicle will continue additional training outside the operational window to further enhance its capabilities.
This marks a key milestone in Singapore’s ongoing AV ambitions and reflects both public and private efforts to integrate autonomous mobility solutions safely and effectively into the urban transport ecosystem.
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