Waymo has announced Singapore as the latest location in its global expansion program, describing the country as a center for innovation.
In partnership with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Waymo is preparing to introduce its fully autonomous, all-electric commercial ride-hailing service to Singapore via the Waymo app in 2028.
The company is applying the same safety-first framework that guided its growth across the US, as it works to launch in Tokyo, London and Munich.
“Singapore has built one of the safest, most efficient and most forward-thinking transportation ecosystems in the world,” said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo. “Their focus on reliability, sustainability and human-centric progress directly mirrors how we have built Waymo’s technology and service. As we begin our journey here, we are committed to listening to the community, creating high-skilled local operational jobs and working hand in hand with national leaders to complement Singapore’s world-class public transit network. We are honored to collaborate with the Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority to take this thoughtful step forward, bringing our proven commercial safety record to the Lion City.”
An initial fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles will arrive in Singapore in the coming months. During a readiness phase in 2027, trained autonomous specialists will conduct manual driving to adapt the Waymo Driver to local road geometry, monsoon weather patterns and other conditions.
Powering Singapore’s green future
Waymo says more than one-third of its riders in San Francisco are picked up or dropped off near transit stations. Thus, the company aims to use its autonomous ride-hailing service in Singapore to provide first- and last-mile connections between public transportation and residential or commercial areas.
Its all-electric fleet will support Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 by reducing tailpipe emissions and potentially reducing reliance on private car ownership. The company estimates that its current fleet prevents around 480 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from road travel each week.
The Waymo autonomous driving system uses a sensor suite comprising lidar, radar and cameras to provide 360° coverage. The company says the system is designed to detect and predict the movements of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users, supporting interactions on urban streets.
Jeffrey Siow, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, said, “Singapore welcomes Waymo’s entry as our newest autonomous vehicle operator. Waymo brings world-class technology and operational expertise to Singapore, and will move us toward our vision of creating new transport options for Singaporeans. The partnership will also strengthen our ecosystem and create new capabilities and jobs here.”
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