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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.

Pony.ai Robotaxi Catches Fire After Malfunction, No Injuries Reported

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Pony.ai, one of China’s leading autonomous vehicle companies, confirmed on Wednesday that one of its driverless robotaxis caught fire in Beijing after a system malfunction triggered an emergency stop. The incident occurred while the vehicle was being handled by service personnel. Fortunately, no passengers were on board, and no injuries were reported.

According to a company statement, the car—operating without a human driver—experienced an “abnormal status” early Tuesday morning, prompting its safety system to initiate a stop. Service staff arrived within two minutes, but during the response process, the vehicle ignited and caught fire.

“No collision occurred and no one was injured. The specific cause is currently under investigation,” Pony.ai stated.

Incident Footage and Public Response

Videos circulating on Chinese social media show thick black smoke rising from a multi-lane highway, with a burned-out vehicle straddling a road divider. The car appears to be a Lexus, the luxury brand under Toyota, which is a known backer of Pony.ai. However, Reuters was unable to verify the model or authenticity of all media posted online.

An unnamed Beijing traffic police officer told Qingdao city’s broadcast outlet that the fire broke out when the engine was restarted, further complicating the cause analysis.

Regulatory and Industry Implications

The incident comes at a sensitive time, as Chinese regulators have begun tightening scrutiny on autonomous driving systems following a recent fatal autopilot-related crash involving a Xiaomi vehicle. The government has been encouraging the deployment of autonomous driving technology, with Pony.ai, Baidu, and others receiving approval to operate fully driverless robotaxis in designated urban zones.

However, high-profile failures—like the Waymo robotaxi incident in San Francisco where the vehicle was set on fire by a crowd—have raised broader concerns about safety, emergency response, and public trust in autonomous vehicles.

Ongoing Investigation

Neither Pony.ai nor Toyota provided additional details as of this writing. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and regulators are likely to monitor the situation closely as the government refines its autonomous vehicle safety standards.

Uber Misses Q1 Revenue Target Amid Slower U.S. Travel, Leans on Global Growth and Robotaxis

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Uber Technologies (UBER.N) reported Q1 revenue of $11.53 billion, slightly below analyst expectations of $11.62 billion, with its core ride-hailing business posting its slowest growth since the pandemic, due largely to weakened U.S. travel demand. Despite the miss, Uber struck an optimistic tone with above-estimate forecasts for Q2, pointing to international expansion and autonomous vehicle partnerships as key growth drivers.

“The categories we operate in … tend to be quite consistent, even during macro uncertainty,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told analysts.

Key Financial Highlights:

  • Total revenue: $11.53B (vs. $11.62B expected)

  • Ride-hailing revenue growth: +15% (slower than past quarters)

  • Delivery revenue growth: +18% (in line with forecasts)

  • Q2 gross bookings guidance: $45.75B–$47.25B (vs. $45.83B expected)

  • Q2 adjusted EBITDA: $2.02B–$2.12B (vs. $2.04B expected)

CFO Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah cited a “slightly higher mix of international trips” and “lower inbound U.S. travel” as key factors behind the slowdown. Broader foreign spending on U.S. travel dropped sharply in March, reinforcing a trend echoed by Airbnb.

Strategic Moves to Offset U.S. Softness:

  • 85% stake acquisition of Trendyol Go (Turkey) for $700M

  • Partnership with China’s Pony AI for robotaxi deployment

  • Robotaxi service with Waymo in Austin showing high usage and scaling plans

Despite the revenue miss, Uber’s stock, which is up 42% year-to-date, fell only ~1% by market close after dipping 6% in early trading.

“We see the miss as immaterial, and as such, believe the stock will recover,” said Jamie Meyers, senior analyst at Laffer Tengler Investments.

Uber’s positioning in delivery, mobility, and autonomous vehicles continues to insulate it from domestic travel headwinds, with international markets and automation partnerships paving the way for sustained long-term growth.