Chinese autonomous driving firms Pony.ai and WeRide are expanding their robotaxi operations to Singapore, marking their entry into the Southeast Asian market. Pony.ai is partnering with ComfortDelGro to deploy robotaxis in the Punggol district. WeRide has already launched a driverless minibus on Sentosa Island in collaboration with Resorts World Sentosa.
Singapore's well-maintained infrastructure, efficient public transport, and openness to technology make it an attractive location for autonomous vehicle development. The Singaporean government has shown support by establishing autonomous vehicle standards and a steering committee for deployment. Both Pony.ai and WeRide are pursuing international markets, but with different partnership strategies. Pony.ai focuses on hardware and has partnered with Uber in the Middle East. WeRide prioritises software and its platform supports various vehicle types.
These companies have advanced algorithms, extensive testing experience and mature vehicle models. Singapore aims to integrate autonomous vehicles into buses, cleaning vehicles and garbage trucks.
