Here’s how to ride Grab's autonomous vehicles at Punggol

Grab Editorial

. October 5, 2026 . Singapore

This article was first published on Sep 20, 2025. It was updated with new information on Jan 12, 2026 and on October, 5 2026.

At a glance: Grab introduced autonomous vehicle (AV) services in Punggol in September 2025. The pilot started with a fixed-schedule shuttle service operating along dedicated routes. As of September 2026, it has expanded to on-demand AV services and grown its fleet size.

On-demand AVs for Punggol residents

Grab’s autonomous vehicle service in Singapore’s Punggol neighbourhood continues expanding. Passengers can now book their own dedicated AVs to travel between pick-up and drop-off points on-demand, taking the most direct route instead of following the fixed loop that is already offered by the AV shuttle. Commercial fares will apply. Grab’s existing fixed-route shuttles (click here) will continue to operate and remain free in the interim.

The new on-demand rides will improve transport options between residential areas and key amenities, including medical clinics, markets, schools, and transport hubs like Punggol Coast MRT station.

We’ll add more AV pick-up and drop-off points in Punggol progressively this year, in consultation with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the local community. With a growing AV fleet size, we also aim to service more locations in Singapore beyond Punggol in the coming months, in accordance with regulatory approval.

The first autonomous shuttles in Punggol

Grab launched its autonomous shuttle service in a limited trial in Punggol in 2025, progressively opening it to the public and adding more services.

The fleet of autonomous vehicles (AVs) was rolled out as part of Grab’s ongoing efforts to explore the feasibility of AVs in Singapore and provide insights into how AVs can effectively bridge the gaps in transportation services and enhance urban mobility across the region.

Ai.R stands for Autonomously Intelligent Rides and was coined to represent a vision of mobility that’s effortless and seamless, like smoothly gliding through the city.

The Ai.R autonomous shuttles were developed by WeRide, a global AV technology leader.

Why Punggol?

Punggol was chosen for the AV shuttle service because it has well-established travel patterns. The neighbourhood’s road infrastructure is also mature, and regular feedback from residents has helped determine the best routes for the AV shuttle service.

The goal? To make it even more convenient to get to key amenities such as shopping centres and transport hubs like the bus interchange and Punggol Coast MRT station.

Shuttle routes

Riding the AV shuttle

Once the autonomous shuttle service becomes available to the public, passengers can use the Grab app to check out shuttle routes, schedules and seat availability prior to arriving at their selected pickup location. The app also allows them to track the shuttle’s real-time location.

Once onboard, those riding the AV for the first time would be required to acknowledge the AV Safety & Terms. Afterward, they need to scan the QR code inside the vehicle to register their ride.

Onboard experience on the AV shuttle

All passengers have to put on their seatbelts before the journey begins. During the journey, passengers can get a view of what the vehicle’s sensors detect and its planned manoeuvre via the in-vehicle screen.

During the initial phase, a trained safety operator will be present in the driver’s seat to take control if needed.

Are the AV shuttles safe?

Safety remains the core of everything Grab does and efforts have been made to ensure that the autonomous shuttles are ready to be on the road.

Before the AVs hit the road, they undergo extensive training to navigate real world conditions in Punggol. Along with a trained engineer and safety operator, the vehicles learn every detail along the assigned route, including traffic lights, zebra crossings, speed limits and more.

This rollout in Punggol is an exciting opportunity for Grab and Singapore to explore how self-driving shuttles can improve daily commutes while addressing the needs of residents in growing urban areas.

Autonomous Technology