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Chinese robotaxi firms team up for autonomous shuttles in Singapore

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Two of China’s leading robotaxi developers — WeRide and Pony.ai — announced partnerships with Singaporean firms to roll out autonomous shuttle services in the city-state, marking a major step in its autonomous driving ambitions.

Grab, Singapore’s ride-hailing giant, said it will partner with WeRide to operate two autonomous shuttle routes in Punggol. Services will begin in early 2026 with five- and eight-seater shuttles, following a test phase to study routes. WeRide, already licensed in Shanghai, is expanding its footprint abroad.

Meanwhile, Pony.ai, backed by Toyota, will team up with ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi and transport operator. Their service will also start in Punggol on a 12-km route, with launches expected “in the coming months” pending regulatory approval, before expanding to nearby communities.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said both companies have a proven track record overseas with multiple vehicle types, including shuttles and robotaxis. Pony.ai already operates commercial services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, and is eyeing further deployments in South Korea, Luxembourg, the Middle East, and beyond after its $260 million Nasdaq IPO in November.

Singapore has been actively exploring autonomous mobility, with Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow visiting Chinese AV firms in June. The partnerships position the country as a testbed for urban driverless fleets, as global competition in robotaxi technology accelerates.

Tesla gains approval to test robotaxis in Arizona

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Tesla has secured approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation to begin testing autonomous robotaxi vehicles in the Phoenix metro area, the agency confirmed Friday. The trials will initially involve cars equipped with safety drivers to monitor operations.

Tesla applied for the permit in June as part of CEO Elon Musk’s plan to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service that could reach half of the U.S. population by the end of the year. While no start date or trial duration has been disclosed, Arizona’s approval marks a significant expansion of Tesla’s robotaxi testing beyond its limited pilot in Austin, Texas, launched earlier this year.

In Austin, Tesla trialed about a dozen vehicles under strict conditions, including a safety monitor in the front passenger seat and a select group of passengers. The Arizona expansion puts Tesla into one of the nation’s most competitive self-driving markets, where Waymo and Cruise have already been testing robotaxi services.

The approval reflects growing state-level support for autonomous vehicle experimentation, even as federal regulators continue to scrutinize safety and data transparency. For Tesla, success in Arizona could provide critical validation for its long-promised robotaxi ambitions.

Waymo and Via to launch robotaxis for public transit in Arizona

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Alphabet’s Waymo (GOOGL.O) is teaming up with Via Transportation (VIA.N) to integrate its autonomous vehicles into public transit, starting with Chandler, Arizona, the companies announced Thursday.

This fall, Waymo’s robotaxis will be added to Chandler Flex, the city’s on-demand neighborhood transit service powered by Via’s software. Via, which provides tech-enabled services for public transport in more than 30 countries, said the partnership marks a milestone in making autonomous vehicles part of mainstream public mobility.

“We’re delighted that this partnership with Waymo paves the path for AVs to become accessible to millions of global public transit riders, enhancing mobility, lowering operating costs, and improving safety outcomes,” said Via co-founder and CEO Daniel Ramot.

Waymo has been steadily expanding its U.S. footprint as competition in the robotaxi sector intensifies. On Wednesday, it announced plans to launch autonomous cab rides in Nashville, Tennessee, next year through a partnership with Lyft (LYFT.O).

The company currently operates paid driverless rides in Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. Meanwhile, EV maker Tesla (TSLA.O) entered the field in June with a limited robotaxi service in Austin and aims to expand to the Bay Area.