Waymo’s driverless ride-share cars to start offering services in Singapore in 2028

Waymo, the driverless ride-hailing operator owned by technology giant Alphabet, plans to begin accepting bookings for trips in Singapore using their autonomous vehicles from 2028. This marks Waymo's first foray into Southeast Asia. At Google's Asia-Pacific headquarters in Pasir Panjang, the company announced that their inaugural fleet will consist of Jaguar I-PACE SUVs.

The number of vehicles in the initial fleet has not been disclosed. Waymo's autonomous vehicles will be driven by trained specialists who will acquaint themselves with Singapore's unique road and weather conditions. These experts will be hired locally along with personnel for fleet maintenance and customer support. The ride-sharing service aims to fill the 'first and last mile' gaps in transportation, connecting users to public transit options.

The company stated that around a third of their customers in San Francisco utilize their rides in conjunction with public transportation. It remains unclear whether Waymo's services will be available across the entire island or limited to specific areas of Singapore. Further details regarding the scope of operations are expected to be released closer to the service's launch.

Currently operating in 15 cities across the United States, Waymo's entry into Singapore adds to its growing list of Asian markets, having already launched services in Tokyo, Japan in 2027. The company has also established a subsidiary in South Korea, but no timeline for commercial operations there has been announced yet.