Waymo plans to offer paid robotaxi rides in Singapore in 2028

Alphabet's Waymo subsidiary plans to introduce its robotaxi service in Singapore in 2028, according to a statement released late Thursday. The company will deploy a fleet of Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles to the Asian city-state in the coming months, marking another step in its international expansion. Waymo currently offers paid robotaxi services in 15 U.S. cities and has been preparing for overseas ventures, including in London, Tokyo, and Germany.

The firm also holds operations in France, the Netherlands, and Spain, although commercial plans have not yet been announced. Waymo has already started charging for rides in select markets, such as Las Vegas this week, and earlier this month in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, Florida. When it opens its services to the Singaporean public in 2028, Waymo intends to make its vehicles accessible through its own consumer application, a strategy differing from Chinese competitors like WeRide and Pony AI who have partnered with local ride-hailing apps like Grab Holdings and ComfortDelGro.

It remains uncertain if Waymo will operate limited routes in Singapore similar to its competitors. The company aims to map all regions of Singapore manually and gather the required data to obtain approval from the Land Transport Authority in 2027, as per a Waymo spokesperson.