Amid domestic economic pressure, Chinese autonomous driving firms are actively seeking overseas opportunities. James Peng (彭军), CEO of Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony AI (小马智行), emphasized:"Singapore is a strategically important market for our global expansion."
He revealed that the company is preparing a robotaxi pilot in partnership with local operator ComfortDelGro. According to The Wall Street Journal, Baidu may also enter Southeast Asia as early as this year, focusing on Singapore and Malaysia.
Chinese autonomous driving companies possess advanced algorithms, extensive testing experience, and mature sensor-equipped vehicle models, enabling them to deploy and scale quickly in Singapore.
In addition, as robotaxis begin operating in major cities across China and the United States, Chinese companies are taking a different path in Singapore—introducing driverless buses (robobuses) first.
On Sentosa Island, an eight-seat autonomous minibus developed by Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide (文远知行) is already in operation—the first fully driverless passenger bus in Singapore without an onboard safety operator. The project, launched in collaboration with Resorts World Sentosa, runs on fixed routes and offers free rides. If successful, WeRide plans to expand its driverless services across the island.
Singapore’s dense population, efficient public transport system, well-maintained roads, and openness to new technologies make it an ideal destination for Chinese autonomous driving firms. Kerry Xu (许凯新), General Manager of WeRide Singapore, noted: “Singapore has unique advantages in adopting autonomous driving technologies. Unlike in China, people here strictly follow traffic rules.”
The Singaporean government has also provided strong policy support. In 2018, it released the country's first national autonomous vehicle standard, and in July 2025, it established a steering committee to guide autonomous vehicle deployment, with members including the CEOs of WeRide, Waymo, Grab, and ComfortDelGro. James Luu, Head of Deutsche Bank’s Diversified Industries Group, remarked: “Singapore’s ambition for autonomous driving goes beyond robotaxis to include buses, cleaning vehicles, and garbage trucks, which enhances the appeal for Chinese companies entering the market.”
With driver shortages, labor market pressures, and an aging population, demand for automation is increasing. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) stated that autonomous driving technologies will help ease manpower shortages.
Challenges remain, however. Allen Chang, Head of Greater China Technology Research at Goldman Sachs, pointed out that potential impacts on local employment, safety concerns, and regulatory compliance are key issues. In public transportation, liability for accidents is still a major challenge requiring cooperation among the government, insurers, and industry.
Nevertheless, these obstacles have not slowed WeRide's progress. Xu concluded: "In the long term, Singapore's regulatory and market environment is highly favorable for commercial operations.”