Waymo is set to become Singapore’s newest autonomous vehicle operator, with the company planning to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in the city-state in 2028.
The US autonomous driving company is working with Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) as it prepares to establish local operations. It will join existing autonomous vehicle operators ComfortDelGro and Grab.
Waymo’s initial fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles is expected to arrive in Singapore in the coming months. The vehicles will initially be driven manually as the company adapts its autonomous driving system to local conditions.
Trained autonomous specialists are expected to begin manual driving in 2027. This phase will allow Waymo to adapt its Waymo Driver technology to Singapore’s road layouts, traffic conditions and monsoon weather.
Subject to regulatory approval and readiness, the company plans to begin commercial autonomous ride-hailing through the Waymo app in 2028.
The Singapore Government will work with Waymo to ensure deployments meet safety and regulatory requirements. It has also said that the expansion of autonomous vehicles will be accompanied by measures to support drivers affected by the transition, including training and assistance in moving into new roles.
Waymo’s service will be designed to complement Singapore’s public transport network, including providing first- and last-mile connections to mass transit.
The company’s vehicles will be fully electric and equipped with lidar, radar and cameras to detect and predict the movements of other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Tekedra Mawakana, Co-CEO of Waymo said:Singapore has built one of the safest, most efficient, and most forward-thinking transportation ecosystems in the world. Their focus on reliability, sustainability, and human-centric progress directly mirrors how we have built Waymo’s technology and service. As we begin our journey here, we are committed to listening to the community, creating high-skilled local operational jobs, and working hand-in-hand with national leaders to complement Singapore’s world class public transit network. We are honored to collaborate with the Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority to take this thoughtful step forward, bringing our proven commercial safety record to the Lion City.
Waymo has provided more than 20 million fully autonomous rides and driven more than 300 million kilometres autonomously. The company also claims a 94% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared with human drivers in US cities where it operates fully autonomously.
Singapore is one of several international markets Waymo is targeting as it expands beyond its existing US operations, alongside planned launches in Tokyo, London and Munich.
