Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On July 17, 2025, Chinese autonomous driving technology company WeRide announced the launch of fully driverless operations for its Robobus at Resorts World Sentosa ("RWS") in Singapore, marking the first deployment of an autonomous vehicle without a safety operator onboard in Southeast Asia.
This milestone represents a significant step forward in WeRide's local deployment and technological validation efforts in Singapore. Since June 2024, the Robobus—WeRide's autonomous minibus—has safely transported tens of thousands of passengers and completed thousands of shuttle trips within RWS, demonstrating both operational efficiency and safety.
Following rigorous remote operation testing, on-road trials, and comprehensive safety assessments, WeRide secured formal approval from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) to launch its fully driverless shuttle service to the public. The Robobus now connects several key destinations within RWS, including Equarius Hotel, Hotel Michael, and Hotel Ora, via a fixed loop route with a total travel time of approximately 12 minutes.
Even before receiving the official permit for fully autonomous service, WeRide's Robobus had been operating regularly on public roads in Singapore as the country's first autonomous vehicle designed without a steering wheel, brake pedal, or accelerator. Equipped with a multi-sensor perception system integrating LiDAR and cameras, the vehicle provides seamless 360-degree visibility and can detect objects within a 200-meter range.
Singapore has shown strong support for autonomous mobility. In June 2025, Acting Minister for Transport Mr. CHEE Hong Tat announced a national plan to integrate autonomous vehicles into Singapore's public transportation system by the end of the year. Solutions like WeRide's fully driverless Robobus are expected to play a key role in improving last-mile connectivity.
In alignment with this national vision, WeRide has established a dedicated R&D center in Singapore and continues to advance autonomous driving technology and deployment with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board ("EDB").
WeRide's footprint in Singapore continues to expand. On November 14, 2024, its autonomous sanitation vehicles—the Robosweeper S1 and Robosweeper S6—received T1 and M1 autonomous driving licenses in Singapore. Within a week, both models began commercial operations at Marina Coastal Drive and the Esplanade, launching the city-state's first autonomous cleaning service. In March 2025, the Robosweeper S1 began pilot operations at Jurong Lake Gardens, marking the company's first autonomous vehicle deployment in a core residential area.
