ComfortDelGro will introduce its autonomous shuttle service, Zig Driverless, in Punggol before the end of this year, the transport company announced on September 20.
Once operational, passengers will be able to book rides through ComfortDelGro's Zig mobile application.
The autonomous shuttles, developed through a collaboration with Chinese technology company Pony.ai, will be equipped with sophisticated sensor fusion technology, incorporating LiDAR, radar, and camera systems. These vehicles will operate using high-precision mapping technology with centimeter-level accuracy.
Pony.ai brings extensive expertise to the partnership, having accumulated more than 50 million kilometers of autonomous driving experience.
ComfortDelGro emphasized that the vehicles will undergo comprehensive testing procedures, including thorough validation across various scenarios and real-world trials, prior to public deployment.
The autonomous vehicles feature multiple safety systems, including obstacle detection capabilities, emergency braking protocols, and backup safety mechanisms.
ComfortDelGro established a memorandum of understanding with Pony.ai in August of last year to explore the commercialization of robotaxis in China.
"This initiative capitalizes on ComfortDelGro's distinctive strengths as an infrastructure and fleet management specialist with proven autonomous vehicle trial experience," stated Cheng Siak Kian, managing director and group CEO of ComfortDelGro.
"Our autonomous vehicle pilot program with Pony.ai in Guangzhou, China, combined with multiple autonomous shuttle routes operating in Singapore, has enabled us to develop extensive real-world autonomous vehicle operational expertise, encompassing fleet management, safety management systems, remote operator capabilities, and comprehensive training and development programs," Cheng explained.
According to Cheng, the program will also help "draw younger professionals to the transportation sector."
ComfortDelGro's taxi fleet has experienced consistent decline over recent years. As of July 2025, ComfortDelGro operates 5,931 taxis, while its wholly-owned subsidiary CityCab maintains 1,942 vehicles. This represents a decrease from end-2024 figures, when ComfortDelGro had 6,339 taxis and CityCab operated 2,085 vehicles.
Meanwhile, Grab Holdings announced its own autonomous vehicle initiative through a partnership with WeRide. The collaboration will deploy an 11-vehicle fleet, with testing scheduled to begin this month. Their autonomous taxis are expected to be operational by early next year.
"We recognize the significant potential of autonomous vehicles to enhance transportation connectivity in underserved communities in the immediate future," said Alex Hungate, president and chief operating officer of Grab.
"In collaboration with autonomous vehicle partners such as WeRide, we are developing a premier autonomous vehicle passenger fleet featuring diverse vehicle models, aimed at expanding transportation alternatives for the public," Hungate added.
Comments