Autonomous driving technology firm WeRide has launched what it describes as Southeast Asia’s first fully driverless Robobus service at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore. The autonomous shuttle operates without a safety officer onboard, following regulatory approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The service is the result of a one-year trial during which the Robobus operated with a safety driver and completed thousands of trips without incident. According to WeRide, the vehicle is equipped with a range of sensors, including LIDAR and cameras, providing a 360-degree field of view and obstacle detection capability of over 200 meters.
“This launch marks a groundbreaking milestone for WeRide and the future of mobility in Southeast Asia,” said Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International at WeRide. She added that “Singapore’s clear regulatory framework and strong local partnerships” played a key role in enabling the deployment.
The LTA stated that its approval followed a comprehensive assessment process. “LTA has been working with WeRide to facilitate autonomous shuttle trials at Resorts World Sentosa,” said Lam Wee Shann, Deputy Chief Executive at LTA. “Companies must pass a rigorous framework to demonstrate the safe operation of AVs on public roads, which includes removing the onboard safety operator only after meeting stringent requirements.”
WeRide has also established a dedicated R&D center in Singapore. Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President at the Singapore Economic Development Board, said: “AV technology is an exciting development that has the potential to shape the future of mobility,” adding that the initiative supports the creation of high-quality tech jobs.