Latest news with #AutonomousA2Z
Business Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Times
Grab to roll out autonomous shuttle bus trial at one-north
[Singapore] Grab announced the launch of its first autonomous electric shuttle bus pilot on Tuesday (Jul 8) in Singapore, in collaboration with Autonomous A2Z (A2Z), a Korean full-stack autonomous vehicle technology manufacturer. Starting tomorrow, the self-driving shuttle will operate on a fixed 3.9km route between Grab's headquarters at one-north and the nearby one-north MRT station. The autonomous shuttle will serve Grab employees for two hours daily during off-peak periods, with additional hours dedicated to further training. Grab and A2Z will closely monitor ride performance and safety outcomes before opening up more time slots. The vehicle is equipped with A2Z's full-stack autonomous technology and Grab's Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and will operate with a trained safety driver onboard at all times. It is also equipped with 11 sensors and has a 360-degree view of its surroundings, enabling it to detect and safely manoeuvre around new objects and sudden obstacles. 'Safety is Grab's top priority, and we are committed to taking a cautious and calibrated approach to autonomous technology pilots,' said Yee Wee Tang, Grab's regional head of operations. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Through this initiative, we are evaluating the safety performance of autonomous technologies and exploring the potential new job opportunities this sector could create,' he added. A2Z's managing director Ryan Kim said the trial is the company's first deployment in Singapore and will help test the commercial viability of autonomous shuttles in Singapore, as well as explore their potential to alleviate manpower shortages in Singapore's public transport sector. As part of the trial, Grab is also training driver-partners and members of the National Private Hire Vehicles Association to become part-time safety drivers, with five already enrolled in the programme. The pilot comes on the heels of Grab's regional partnerships with several autonomous vehicle firms, and is part of its broader strategy to support Singapore's autonomous vehicle ambitions.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Grab rolls out self-driving shuttle for staff in six-month Singapore pilot on July 9
SINGAPORE, July 8 — Ride-hailing giant Grab is launching a six-month trial of a driverless shuttle service for its employees, starting July 9. According to The Straits Times, the 22-seater autonomous electric minibus will run on a 3.9km fixed loop between Grab's office at Media Circle and the one-north MRT station during off-peak hours on weekdays. Although the bus is fully self-driving, a safety operator will remain behind the wheel to take control if necessary, in line with Land Transport Authority (LTA) regulations. The LTA, which oversees autonomous vehicle (AV) trials, requires all such vehicles to have a safety operator and display a blinking yellow beacon and a trial sticker when in autonomous mode. Developed by Korean tech firm Autonomous A2Z, the vehicle is a regular electric minibus retrofitted with sensors and software to enable autonomous driving, The Straits Times reported. It is equipped with 11 sensors — including radars and cameras — and has undergone over 100 hours of training along the designated route. The training covered road infrastructure, lane markings, pedestrian detection, and responding to traffic lights. During a 15-minute demonstration today, the shuttle completed the journey without human intervention. It navigated traffic, changed lanes to avoid obstacles like illegally parked vehicles, and stopped at every zebra crossing along the route — even when no pedestrians were present — as required by the LTA. Grab's group managing director of operations, Yee Wee Tang, said the trial could offer insights into how AVs might serve short-distance trips more effectively. 'It could potentially be of value to passengers whose destinations are too far for walking but too near to use a ride-hail service,' he reportedly said at the media preview. When not in service, the shuttle will be used for training and technology development. Currently, five safety operators are undergoing training, with plans to expand to 10 by the end of 2025. The pilot follows Grab's March partnership with four autonomous tech companies to assess how AVs can support urban transport in South-east Asia. The launch also comes amid a wider government push to integrate autonomous vehicles into Singapore's public transport network. In June, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the Singapore government was exploring the use of AVs to enhance public mobility. A larger-scale trial involving self-driving public shuttles is slated to begin in Punggol in the fourth quarter of 2025. Autonomous A2Z is the only firm with LTA approval to conduct AV trials in 2025 so far, joining earlier test participants Chinese firms WeRide and Zelos, and local company Moovita. According to the LTA, 17 autonomous vehicles are currently authorised for public road trials as of end-June. These include AVs designed for logistics, passenger transport, and road maintenance. Since 2017, more than 60 AVs have been approved for on-road trials, with about a third still active.
