Curious about self-driving vehicles? You don't need to fly anywhere — you can hop on one in Punggol. Ai.R, run by WeRide and Grab, is Singapore's first autonomous (driverless) public ride service, and it's been carrying residents since 1 April 2026.
> What: driverless public shuttle · Where: Punggol · Fare: free for now ($4 flat fare planned ~mid-2026) · Hours: weekdays ~9:30am–5:30pm.
What it is
Ai.R uses self-driving vehicles to ferry passengers around Punggol, linking neighbourhood hotspots like Oasis Terraces, Punggol Plaza, One Punggol and Punggol Coast Mall. There are two full AV shuttle routes, plus a shorter ~20-minute "Mini Route" if you just want to sample the experience without committing to a long loop.
How much, and how to ride
- Fare: Free for now. A flat fare of about $4 per passenger is expected once commercial (revenue) service begins — which has been planned for around mid-2026. In other words, the free window may be closing soon, so it's worth trying while it lasts (and checking the latest fare in-app).
- Booking: through the Grab app, much like booking a normal Grab.
- When: weekdays, roughly 9:30am to 5:30pm, within Punggol.
Is it safe?
The vehicles drive themselves, but every Ai.R vehicle currently has a trained safety operator on board who stays alert and can take over and stop the vehicle if needed. The fleet has already clocked around 30,000km of autonomous mileage and served 1,000+ early riders during testing.
Worth a trip?
If you live in or near Punggol, it's a genuinely novel — and currently free — thing to do, and a fun one for kids who'll get a kick out of a "car with no driver." It's also a small glimpse of where Singapore's transport is heading. Just remember it's a weekday, daytime service within Punggol, so plan around that.
Related
- [i Light Singapore 2026 — Free Light Art at Marina Bay](/article/i-light-singapore-2026-marina-bay-free-guide) — another free outing (last weekend!)
- [Best Singapore Promos & Deals This June 2026](/article/best-singapore-promos-deals-june-2026) — the month's live deals
*Details from LTA, and WeRide/Grab's launch announcement, plus listings (Land Transport Guru, TheSmartLocal). Routes, hours, fares and the free-ride period are set by the operators and can change — confirm the latest in the Grab app before heading down. Cover image: stock photo (Pexels) of an autonomous vehicle, illustrative — not the actual Ai.R shuttle.*



