Waymo Plans Singapore Robotaxi Launch for 2028

Waymo is preparing to launch its all-electric autonomous ride-hailing service in Singapore in 2028, marking the Alphabet-owned company's first move into Southeast Asia. The rollout will begin with Jaguar I-PACE vehicles arriving in the coming months, followed by manual driving in 2027 to adapt the Waymo Driver to Singapore's road layouts and monsoon weather before fully autonomous rides become available through the Waymo app. The move could widen local transport choices.

Image: Waymo

The company is working with Singapore's Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority on the phased introduction. Trained autonomous specialists will initially drive the vehicles manually in 2027, allowing the system to learn local road geometry and weather conditions before the planned commercial launch.

Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow welcomed Waymo as Singapore's newest autonomous-vehicle operator. He said the company's technology and operational experience would help advance the country's goal of creating new transport options, while strengthening local capabilities and generating jobs.

Singapore would become Waymo's first market in Southeast Asia. The expansion forms part of a wider international push that also includes Tokyo, where the company is targeting its first fully autonomous commercial taxi service in 2027.

Waymo is entering a fast-developing autonomous-mobility market alongside rivals including Amazon's Zoox and Tesla. The company was valued at US$126 billion in February after raising US$16 billion, giving it significant financial backing as it expands beyond the United States.

The next key steps will be the arrival of the initial electric fleet, manual road operations in 2027 and regulatory progress towards opening the service to the public in 2028.

Source: Reuters