Chinese autonomous driving technology firm WeRide and Southeast Asian super app Grab will jointly roll out a robotaxi service in Singapore, marking a significant step in WeRide’s international expansion.
The service, branded Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride), has been selected by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) as the first autonomous shuttle project serving residential areas. It will operate along two designated routes in the northeastern district of Punggol, with an initial fleet of 11 robotaxis.
WeRide said the Ai.R fleet will include its five-passenger Robotaxi GXR and eight-passenger Robobus, both of which have achieved Singapore’s Milestone 1 (M1) certification. “This makes them among the first autonomous vehicles specifically certified for Punggol service,” the company said in a statement.
Starting this week, Ai.R vehicles will undergo route familiarization testing in Punggol, with each shuttle accompanied by a Grab safety operator. Once launched, passengers will be able to check schedules and track vehicles in real time through the Grab app.
Founded in 2017, WeRide was one of China’s earliest companies to focus on autonomous driving and listed on the Nasdaq in October 2024. In August, Grab committed to a multi-million-dollar equity investment in WeRide, a deal expected to close in the first half of 2026.
Separately, WeRide said it has been included in the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index (Nasdaq: HXC), a benchmark for US-listed Chinese companies, which it expects will “enhance its visibility among investors and strengthen its capital market standing.”