China’s WeRide and PonyAI Expand Robotaxi Services to Singapore

Chinese autonomous vehicle firms WeRide and PonyAI are making strategic moves into Singapore, partnering with local ride-hailing giants Grab and ComfortDelGro. WeRide will deploy robotaxis on two approved routes in Punggol, while PonyAI aims to launch services within months. Singapore's Land Transport Authority has designated 12-kilometer test routes, aligning with the government's push to integrate autonomous vehicles into public transport by year-end.

The initiative positions Singapore as Southeast Asia's hub for driverless technology. This expansion follows Singapore's June announcement about deploying autonomous vehicles across public housing estates. Chinese AV companies, including Baidu's Apollo Go, are aggressively targeting international markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Tesla's robotaxi pilot in Austin faces scrutiny after three reported crashes. The contrasting developments highlight the accelerating global race in autonomous vehicle deployment, with Asia emerging as a key battleground for adoption.