Grab and A2Z Rolls Out Autonomous Shuttle in One-North

Grab has launched its first autonomous electric shuttle pilot in Singapore, offering Grab employees a driverless commute between the company’s One-North office and the nearby MRT station.

The 3.9 KM fixed loop service is set to begin on July 9 on a six-month trial basis aimed at studying the viability of autonomous vehicles for short-distance transport.

The 22-seater electric minibus has been retrofitted with autonomous software and hardware from Korean tech firm Autonomous A2Z. A trained safety operator will remain behind the wheel at all times, as required by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA).

The shuttle operates on weekdays during off-peak hours, with additional time dedicated to training and system refinement. The vehicle is equipped with 11 sensors, including LiDAR, radar, and cameras enabling 360-degree awareness of its surroundings.

Over 100 hours of training were completed on the designated route to ensure the shuttle can handle real-world conditions like traffic signals, zebra crossings, and road obstacles.

During a demonstration earlier today, the vehicle successfully performed lane changes and responded to road conditions without driver input. As per LTA requirements, the shuttle stops at all pedestrian crossings regardless of pedestrian presence and features a blinking yellow beacon and identifying stickers while in autonomous mode.

The pilot is part of a broader regional initiative by Grab, which signed partnerships earlier this year with several autonomous tech firms including A2Z, WeRide, Motional, and Zelos to explore autonomous mobility in Southeast Asia.

A2Z’s entry into Singapore follows its track record in South Korea, where its autonomous vehicles have logged over 668,000 KM of incident-free travel.

Grab is also using the pilot to explore workforce transition opportunities, with five drivers selected from its GrabTaxi and GrabCar partners program to undergo training as safety operators. The company aims to train up to 10 safety operators by the end of the year.

Speaking at the preview, Grab’s Regional Head of Operations, Yee Wee Tang, said the shuttle could address last-mile connectivity issues for short trips that fall between walking distance and a full ride-hailing trip.

Autonomous A2Z is the only company granted AV trial approval by LTA in 2025 so far, joining other players like China’s WeRide and Zelos, as well as Singapore’s Moovita. As of end-June, LTA has authorised 17 autonomous vehicles for public road testing, with about one-third still active.

Source: GRAB & The Straits Times