Grab to Pilot On-Demand Autonomous Vehicle Service in Punggol
Source: CNA Tech
Grab is moving beyond fixed-route AV shuttles in Punggol to offer on-demand point-to-point autonomous rides, with the public rollout expected in Q4 2026. The shift follows community feedback where 60% of residents preferred choosing their own boarding points.
Singapore's autonomous vehicle trials are taking a significant step forward. Grab, the region's leading ride-hailing platform, is moving beyond fixed-route shuttle services to offer on-demand AV rides that let passengers choose exactly where they board and alight. This shift from static routes to dynamic point-to-point travel marks a natural evolution for a trial that has already logged over 11,500 unique riders since opening to the public in April.
The Land Transport Authority announced on July 29 that Grab will pilot an on-demand autonomous vehicle service in Punggol, where AVs will take the most direct route between a rider's selected pick-up and drop-off points rather than following predetermined routes. The service will first open to trial riders in the coming months, with a gradual public rollout expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, when commercial fares will apply. Grab currently operates two of three AV shuttle routes in Punggol, while ComfortDelGro runs the third.
The decision to introduce on-demand routing came directly from community feedback. Post-ride surveys of around 270 Punggol residents found that nearly 60 percent preferred being able to choose their boarding and alighting points, while about 40 percent wanted more direct routes to their destinations. LTA noted that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive overall, with 99 percent of approximately 900 survey respondents saying they felt safe during rides and would recommend the service to others.
Grab is actively building operational infrastructure to support the expansion. The company has established an AV depot in Punggol and plans to add more autonomous vehicles to its fleet this year. Over 500 individuals have already joined a waitlist to be among the first to try the new on-demand service. The fixed-route shuttles will continue operating alongside the enhanced service and will remain free of charge, LTA said, to encourage broader adoption and familiarisation with AV technology.
Why it matters for Singapore: Punggol has become Singapore's living laboratory for autonomous mobility, and the transition from fixed-route shuttles to on-demand AVs is a critical test of whether AV technology can meet real-world transport needs. Then-Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow indicated in April that successful trials could lead to AV expansion beyond Punggol. If Grab's on-demand pilot demonstrates viable unit economics and passenger demand, it could accelerate the timeline for autonomous mobility becoming a mainstream transport option across Singapore's residential towns.