Autonomous a2z (hereinafter referred to as a2z), a global autonomous driving startup, announced today that it has partnered with Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, to launch the first-ever autonomous shuttle service on public roads in downtown Singapore.

Through this collaboration, a2z will operate a 24-seater bus-based autonomous shuttle for Grab employees on a 3.9km route between Grab’s Singapore headquarters and One-North MRT station. The shuttle, equipped with a2z’s Level 4 autonomous driving solution, will officially commence operations tomorrow, July 9th. Trained safety drivers will be on board to ensure passenger safety and smooth operation.

The two companies initially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in March to evaluate the safety, commercial viability, and job creation potential of autonomous vehicles in Southeast Asia. This shuttle launch represents the first tangible outcome of that agreement and is expected to garner significant global interest.

To provide autonomous driving services optimized for Singapore’s unique environment, a2z conducted over 100 hours of systematic training on the actual operating routes. This intensive training focused on: △data collection (gathering information on road infrastructure, traffic lights, lane markings, and detecting pedestrians, vehicles, and obstacles) △data annotation (labeling objects based on attributes such as size, speed, and direction) △algorithm training (programming the shuttle for real-world operations, such as stopping at crosswalks and traffic lights) △route testing (optimizing navigation and verifying adaptability to unexpected situations like traffic blockages). Through this rigorous process, a2z successfully developed a locally customized autonomous driving system that operates stably in tropical climates and complex urban environments, and seamlessly adheres to right-hand drive and left-hand traffic laws.

a2z also collaborated with Grab to develop a smart operating system designed to maximize passenger convenience. Grab’s smart vehicle solution, KartaDashcam, automatically detects the number of passengers and shuttle location information, which is then synchronized in real-time with the Grab app. This allows Grab employees to check shuttle schedules, vehicle locations, and the number of available seats through the app.

The autonomous shuttle will operate for two hours daily, outside of rush hour, and will also have dedicated time for additional training. a2z and Grab plan to gradually expand vehicle operations by meticulously monitoring the results of both operations and training.

Beyond simply adopting technology, both companies are actively promoting local job creation and talent development. Currently, a total of five drivers, including one Grab taxi driver, two GrabCar drivers, and two drivers from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), have completed safety driver training for the shuttle operation. Up to ten drivers are expected to be trained by the end of the year.

a2z has been consistently building its foundation for market entry into Singapore. In 2024, it established a local joint venture, Autonomous2Global (A2G), with Kilsa Global, a global expansion specialist, and successfully secured the smart city project ‘COSMO’. In May of this year, a2z achieved the significant milestone of being the first Korean company to acquire Singapore’s M1 autonomous driving license. It is also installing and operating its self-developed Lidar Infrastructure System (LIS) at CETRAN, Singapore’s autonomous driving test site. With the launch of this service, a2z is poised to embark on full-scale business expansion across Southeast Asia, including Singapore.

Wee Tang Yee, Regional Head of Operations at Grab, stated, “Safety is Grab’s top priority, and we are taking a cautious and phased approach to autonomous driving pilot operations. a2z is an excellent partner for this. Through this initiative, we will evaluate the safety performance of autonomous driving technology and explore new job creation opportunities.”

Ho-jin Kim, Senior Managing Director of Business Development at a2z, commented, “This project with Grab was made possible through the full support of the government, KATRI, and NIPA for autonomous driving test operations and global business. It represents an opportunity for a2z to be recognized for its technological and business competitiveness beyond Korea in the global market. We will further advance a2z’s full-stack autonomous driving technology and locally customized solutions to lead the autonomous driving market in Southeast Asia.”