From as early as October 2025, you could be hopping on self-driving shuttles in Punggol, as Singapore prepares to make a major push into autonomous public transport.
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow announced on June 27 during a visit to Guangzhou, China. His comments followed earlier plans to expand autonomous vehicle (AV) trials over the next five years to strengthen the country’s public transport system.
The first area to see this new technology will be Punggol, a young but fast-growing town in Singapore’s northeast. Specific shuttle routes are currently being discussed, and feedback from residents is already guiding the plans.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling, also a Member of Parliament for Punggol GRC, said residents in Punggol West have requested easier access to amenities in Punggol East, like the polyclinic and wet market. Meanwhile, those living east of Punggol have asked for more direct access to transport hubs like the bus interchange.
Although the exact vehicle types, routes, and fares are still being finalised, plans are being made.
Talks underway with global AV makers
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is already discussing with possible AV partners, including local public transport operators and overseas firms like Waymo, the American self-driving taxi company.
“We have many options,” said Mr Siow, adding that multiple operators could eventually be brought in.
The government aims to get the first autonomous vehicles on Punggol roads by the start of the fourth quarter of 2025. These initial AVs will offer short, fixed-route services within Housing Board neighbourhoods. The aim is not to replace buses or taxis but to complement them.
In the longer term, driverless vehicles could take over services currently limited by staffing needs, such as night buses.
However, the rollout will be gradual. At first, these vehicles won’t carry passengers. Instead, they’ll be driving around to allow other road users and residents to get used to their presence.
“It’s about letting people get comfortable with them first,” explained Mr Siow. “Once they realise these are no different from private cars, the next steps can follow.”
To ensure your safety, the vehicles will be painted brightly for visibility and will have a trained safety officer on board during the early phases. Their speed will also be kept low and manageable.
Ms Sun noted that the safety officer will likely be removed in the third deployment phase, once people are familiar with the system.
Expansion plans beyond Punggol
Punggol was chosen for this pilot due to its modern road layout and clear travel patterns. “It’s a great testing ground,” Mr Siow said. If the Punggol trial proves successful, Tengah has been shortlisted as the next estate to introduce AVs, possibly in early 2026.
The government is also looking into which vehicle types make the most sense. While buses are an option, multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) may be used first. MPVs offer flexibility due to features like doors on both sides and are already widely supported by AV technology.
On the cost issue, Mr Siow said the government is open to initially providing financial support to operators, helping them bring in AVs while the service scales up.
Fares are expected to sit between regular public transport rates and what you’d pay for a taxi or ride-hailing service. “These are the kinds of trips that private-hire drivers may not want to take, especially during peak times,” he said.
Until now, Singapore’s driverless vehicle trials have been limited to areas like One-North, university campuses and Resorts World Sentosa.
While the Land Transport Authority plans to test autonomous buses on selected routes from mid-2026, the Punggol shuttle programme will run alongside that effort. The goal is to explore AV usage in both residential and non-residential settings.
The announcement came during Mr Siow’s official trip to Guangzhou, where he visited leading Chinese AV companies like WeRide (which already runs a shuttle at Sentosa), Pony.ai (partnered with ComfortDelGro), and DiDi.
He also met with the Guangzhou Public Transport Group, which runs 130 self-driving taxis and 50 autonomous shuttle buses.
Mr Siow said the trip showed that the technology is mature enough for widespread use. “Cities worldwide are moving forward with AVs,” he said. “Singapore should be right there with them.”
