{"id":251020,"date":"2025-09-20T12:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T04:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/?post_type=editorial&p=251020"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:50:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T02:50:28","slug":"autonomous-vehicle-self-driving-job-upskilling","status":"publish","type":"editorial","link":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/inside-grab\/stories\/autonomous-vehicle-self-driving-job-upskilling\/","title":{"rendered":"How will AVs transform jobs and driving as we know it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The rise of self-driving cars paves the way for new opportunities. They could step in to complement regular, human-driven fleets where there are gaps. But autonomous vehicles (AVs) also raise concerns. How will they impact jobs and mobility as we know it?<\/p>

What happens to jobs in the age of AVs?<\/h5>

In Southeast Asia, where ride-hailing has become a cornerstone of urban mobility, AV adoption is in its infancy. At Grab, we\u2019ve rolled out AVs to shuttle employees between our Singapore Headquarters and the nearest MRT station. We will start offering AV shuttle services in Singapore\u2019s Punggol community soon to make it more convenient for residents to get to key amenities, such as shopping centres and transport hubs like the bus interchange, and Punggol Coast MRT station.<\/p>

(Read more: Here\u2019s how to ride on the autonomous shuttle at Punggol<\/a>)<\/p>

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We believe self-driving vehicles will eventually play a part in the mobility landscape of this region, including plugging essential gaps in first-and-last mile transportation options.\u00a0<\/p>

(Read more: Why is Grab exploring autonomous vehicles?<\/a>)<\/p>

Still, it\u2019s natural to wonder how AVs will impact traditional driving jobs. Will many drivers eventually be replaced by machines? Will automation lead to unemployment? These are valid questions, and as a company built on economic empowerment, they\u2019re close to our hearts.<\/p>

Here\u2019s the good news: History shows us that technological advancements don\u2019t just displace jobs, they create new ones. The rise of computers didn\u2019t reduce the need for human workers, it birthed entirely new ecosystems of software engineers, IT specialists, and digital businesses. Similarly, the rise of smartphones didn\u2019t merely disrupt industries, it kickstarted ecosystems of app developers, digital marketers, and social media influencers.<\/p>

We believe AVs are poised to do the same, creating new roles in fleet management, safety management, customer support, and more.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Beyond essential frontline jobs, AVs will drive demand for highly skilled roles like system engineers, data analysts, and cybersecurity specialists. These are potential career paths that offer stability, growth, and new opportunities for Southeast Asia\u2019s workforce.<\/p>

How we prepare drivers for the future through GrabAcademy<\/h5>

Since its launch in 2020, our training institution, GrabAcademy, has trained over 160,000 partners across 460 unique courses. Thousands have completed training in in-demand fields like data analytics, cybersecurity and digital marketing. GrabAcademy also offers diploma and degree programs with reputable tertiary institutions, as well as career facilitation services like resume enhancement and interview preparation.<\/p>

For the AV shift, we will help partners transition into emerging roles through new training programmes. We\u2019re\u00a0 focusing on foundational roles first that will grow alongside early deployments. These include:<\/p>