GrabAcademy has been providing AV training to a select group of interested driver- and delivery-partners to support AV deployment in Punggol

Singapore, 6 August 2026 – GrabAcademy, a training and career guidance organisation, today celebrated the graduation of its pioneer cohort of certified autonomous vehicle (AV) operators. This milestone comes as Grab prepares to enhance its AV operations in Punggol later this year by introducing an on-demand, direct-route pilot service (click here for details) to deliver greater connectivity and convenience.

At the graduation ceremony held at the Grab Driver Centre, 23 individuals received their certificates as graduates of the AV Safety Operator programme, recognising their training in operating AV systems, ensuring ride safety, and executing incident management protocols. Among them, six also completed Remote Operator training, which equips them to monitor and manage the AV fleet from Grab’s Operations Command Centre. All graduates are Grab’s driver- and delivery-partners.

Alejandro Osorio, Managing Director of Grab Singapore, said: “Congratulations to our pioneer cohort of certified AV operators! My deepest appreciation to all of you for taking this learning journey with Grab to shape a hybrid mobility network, where AVs and our core driver community work alongside each other. Whether on the frontlines in Punggol or monitoring fleet operations behind the scenes, your support is essential to keeping our AV service safe, seamless and reliable. As autonomous technologies become a bigger part of daily life, we are committed to keep enhancing GrabAcademy’s training programmes so our partners can seize new opportunities in this emerging field.”

Michael Neo, a certified Safety Operator and former Grab driver-partner, said: “Stepping into the AV world after eight years behind the wheel as a PHV (private-hire vehicle) driver was definitely a big leap for me. I’m really grateful to my GrabAcademy trainers – they were patient and encouraging every step of the way. Plus, living in Punggol makes being part of the AV programme extra special. I’m proud to be part of the team bringing it to my neighbourhood.”

Expanding GrabAcademy’s AV Training Pathway

A Registered Training Provider with the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), GrabAcademy kickstarted its AV Training Pathway a year ago to enable interested partners to receive structured, specialised training for AV roles. Developed in close collaboration with WeRide, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, the Pathway launched with the AV Safety Operator programme last year, before expanding to include Remote Operator training earlier this year.

More recently, GrabAcademy added to the AV Training Pathway the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Health and Fatigue Risk Management for Autonomous Vehicle Operators course, strongly supported by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and eligible for SWDA funding. And GrabAcademy will continue to evolve its modules to better cater to growing AV deployment needs.

Sarah Binte Ahmad, a certified Safety Operator and Remote Operator, and former Grab driver partner, said: “While I’m always keen to learn about new technology, I never imagined how exciting it would be to enter the AV field, or the joy I would derive from sharing what I do with others. Over the years, I’ve had to step out of the workforce a few times to care for my four children, and I’ve often wondered if my career options would be limited at this time of my life. I’m grateful to GrabAcademy and WeRide for supporting my aspirations. I’m excited to keep advancing my skills and growing in the AV industry.”

Alan Ong, Head of GrabAcademy, said: “Every partner comes to GrabAcademy with different stories and different goals. For those who want to focus on being driver- and delivery-partners, we offer practical training to help them earn safely and efficiently. For partners keen to pick-up new areas of knowledge or specialised skills – like operating AVs – we provide industry-recognised programmes to support them. I’m personally a big believer of lifelong learning and continuous retraining. For me, it’s not just helping our partners stay productive, relevant and resilient in a changing world, but also helping them gain the satisfaction and confidence that come from mastering something new.”

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About GrabAcademy

GrabAcademy was established to equip Grab’s driver, delivery, and merchant partners with the knowledge and skills to grow and thrive on the platform.

Over the years, as the needs and aspirations of Grab’s partners evolved, the organisation expanded its offerings to also help partners broaden their skillsets and explore alternative career pathways.

GrabAcademy programmes range from workshops and short-form courses to specialised training (including in autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence), as well as formal qualifications through Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). GrabAcademy also provides career facilitation – including resume writing and interview preparations – and job-matching support.

Recently, GrabAcademy has been registered as a training provider with the Skills and Workforce Development Agency.