SINGAPORE — Alphabet’s Waymo is bringing autonomous all-electric ride-hailing to Singapore by 2028, marking its first entry into Southeast Asia, Reuters reported. The company will work with Singapore’s transport ministry and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as it builds toward a public launch.
An initial fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles is due to arrive in Singapore in the coming months. The timeline is deliberately staged: in 2027, trained autonomous specialists will first drive the cars manually so the Waymo Driver can learn local road geometry and monsoon weather before passengers are invited in.
Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow welcomed the move, saying: “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 towards our vision of creating new transport options for Singaporeans.”
The Singapore plan lands in the same week Waymo said it aims to launch Japan’s first fully autonomous commercial taxi service in Tokyo in 2027. Waymo was valued at $126 billion in February when it raised $16 billion, and it competes with Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla in self-driving.
For Singapore riders and operators, the near-term story is not overnight robotaxis on every CBD kerb — it is a multi-year fit with LTA rules, weather, and streets before a 2028 public window.
Bottom line: Waymo’s first SEA robotaxi bet is Singapore — I-PACE hardware soon, human-led mapping in 2027, public autonomous ride-hailing targeted for 2028. Watch LTA milestones and how Tokyo’s 2027 push compares on timing.
