Waymo Plans Autonomous Ride-Hailing Launch in Singapore by 2028, Partners with Local Authorities

September 18, 2026
Waymo Plans Autonomous Ride-Hailing Launch in Singapore by 2028, Partners with Local Authorities
  • Waymo plans a Singapore robotaxi service launch in 2028, with mapping and autonomous testing using safety drivers starting in 2027 and an initial all-electric Jaguar I-PACE fleet arriving in the coming months.

  • The rollout is a collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority to offer an app-booked autonomous ride-hailing service using Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.

  • Waymo’s three-phase roadmap envisions: first, a pilot with an all-electric Jaguar I-PACE fleet; second, a 2027 readiness phase with trained autonomous specialists for manual driving to tune Waymo Driver to local conditions; third, a full autonomous launch in 2028.

  • The broader strategy emphasizes adapting autonomous tech to different road systems and traffic conditions in international markets, rather than simply duplicating the U.S. model.

  • Regulatory and political hurdles in some large U.S. cities have spurred ongoing overseas expansion.

  • Waymo leadership stresses listening to local communities, creating high-skilled jobs, and working with national leaders to integrate with public transit.

  • Singapore’s dense urban network and established public transport provide a test environment for integrating autonomous rides with buses and trains, not outright replacement.

  • Waymo highlights its safety-first approach with extensive driving experience, millions of autonomous miles and hundreds of millions in simulation, noting a 94% reduction in injury-causing crashes in U.S. operations.

  • A 360-degree perception system using lidar, radar, and cameras underpins Waymo’s operation, with tens of millions of autonomous rides and hundreds of millions of kilometers logged.

  • Waymo frames expansion as a complement to public transport, aiming for first- and last-mile connections to transit hubs in Tokyo and Singapore.

  • Singapore’s regulator will ensure safety and regulatory compliance and work to build public trust in autonomous vehicles.

  • If Singapore succeeds, it could become a reference point for Southeast Asia, testing U.S.-developed autonomous systems in diverse regional conditions.

Summary based on 7 sources


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