Latest news with #one-north
CNA
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: Are we ready for driverless buses?
Grab has launched an autonomous electric shuttle bus service to ferry employees between its one-north office and the nearby MRT station. The initiative comes, as Singapore prepares for AV trials in Punggol later this year. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss more with Dr Samuel Chng, Research Assistant Professor, Head of Urban Psychology Lab, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, SUTD.
CNA
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
Grab launches autonomous shuttle bus for its employees between office and MRT station
SINGAPORE: Grab will be shuttling employees between its one-north office and the MRT station with an autonomous vehicle (AV) starting Wednesday (Jul 9). The 22-seater electric shuttle bus will operate daily during the off-peak hours of 2pm to 4pm, the local tech firm announced on Tuesday, adding that employees can track the vehicle's location using the Grab app. A trained safety driver will be present at all times to 'ensure passenger safety and smooth operations', said Grab in a statement. The shuttle will only be available to Grab employees and is operated in collaboration with Autonomous A2Z, a Korean AV manufacturer. A2Z's business and international managing director Ryan Kim said that A2Z has been collaborating closely with Grab, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and local safety drivers to prepare for AV operations in Singapore. 'The pilot will enable us to better assess the commercial viability of autonomous shuttles in addressing first- and last-mile commute challenges while exploring their potential to alleviate manpower shortages in the public transport sector,' he said. He added that A2Z and Grab will share insights from the initiative with the government to 'support Singapore's broader AV ambitions'. Grab's initiative comes days after it was announced that Singapore will be trialling AVs in Punggol from the fourth quarter of this year. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said last month that AVs will be plying fixed routes in Punggol. Prior to the launch, the autonomous shuttle went through over 100 hours of 'training' on the fixed 3.9km route connecting Grab's office to one-north station. Information on lane markings, traffic lights and obstacles was collected. The shuttle was also trained to respond to real-world scenarios such as stopping at zebra crossings, traffic lights and unplanned scenarios such as traffic obstructions. The AV is equipped with 11 sensors and has a 360-degree view of its surroundings. 'If an issue with the sensors or systems is detected, the in-built safety algorithm will ensure the bus comes to a safe and complete stop,' said Grab. Other than the two hours of operations daily, there will be an additional hour of further training for the vehicle. Both Grab and A2Z will closely monitor ride performance and safety outcomes before opening up more time slots. During a demonstration with media on board, the autonomous shuttle drove with caution - coming to a complete stop at zebra crossings even when no pedestrians were observed. The bus also kept a safe distance from any stopped or incoming vehicles and backed out from a lane change when a vehicle abruptly cut in. Whenever a cyclist or jaywalker appeared, even if they were a distance away, the bus would jerk to a stop to avoid any chance of an accident. A screen on the bus indicated whether it was in 'autonomous mode' or 'manual mode'. Other information such as speed, direction and arrival time was also shown. Through the pilot, Grab also looks to explore how Singapore workers, such as platform workers, can upskill and transition into emerging roles in the AV sector. For a start, Grab aims to train up to 10 safety drivers by the end of the year. Five drivers are currently undergoing training. Grab's regional head of operations Yee Wee Tang said that safety is a top priority. 'Through this initiative, we are evaluating the safety performance of autonomous technologies and exploring the potential new job opportunities this sector could create,' he said.
Malay Mail
08-07-2025
- 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.
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Singapore's national broadcaster Mediacorp dismisses employee after ‘serious incident' in female toilet, police investigating
SINGAPORE, June 11 — A male employee at Singapore's national broadcaster Mediacorp has been dismissed following an incident involving suspicious behaviour in a female toilet at the company's premises. The company confirmed to The Straits Times yesterday that the staff member was immediately terminated after what it described as a 'serious incident'. The case has since been referred to the police, and the individual is currently in custody as investigations continue. In a brief statement, a Mediacorp spokesman said, 'The safety and well-being of our employees is of paramount importance to us, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for all.' The broadcaster, headquartered at Mediapolis in one-north, did not provide further details, citing ongoing investigations. The Straits Times said it had contacted the police for more information.
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Mediacorp dismisses employee after ‘serious incident' in female toilet, police investigating
SINGAPORE, June 11 — A male employee at Singapore's national broadcaster Mediacorp has been dismissed following an incident involving suspicious behaviour in a female toilet at the company's premises. The company confirmed to The Straits Times yesterday that the staff member was immediately terminated after what it described as a 'serious incident'. The case has since been referred to the police, and the individual is currently in custody as investigations continue. In a brief statement, a Mediacorp spokesman said, 'The safety and well-being of our employees is of paramount importance to us, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for all.' The broadcaster, headquartered at Mediapolis in one-north, did not provide further details, citing ongoing investigations. The Straits Times said it had contacted the police for more information.
