WeRide Launches Southeast Asia’s First Fully Driverless Robobus Operations at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore

Rhea-AI Summary

WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) has launched Southeast Asia's first fully driverless Robobus operations at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore. The autonomous vehicle operates without a safety officer onboard, following approval from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) after demonstrating a year of safe operations since June 2024.

The Robobus connects key locations within RWS on a 12-minute fixed loop, equipped with advanced LIDARs, cameras, and sensors capable of detecting obstacles over 200 meters away. The service has maintained a zero-incident safety record while transporting thousands of passengers.

WeRide has also established an R&D center in Singapore and deployed other autonomous solutions, including the Robosweeper S6 and S1 for sanitation projects. The company plans to expand its presence across Southeast Asia through continued collaboration with local authorities.

Positive

• First fully driverless Robobus in Southeast Asia approved for public operation
• Zero-incident safety record maintained since June 2024
• Advanced detection system with 200+ meter range and 360-degree coverage
• Established R&D center in Singapore with government support
• Successfully expanded into autonomous sanitation projects in Singapore

Negative

• None.

Insights

Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expert

WeRide achieves significant milestone with first fully driverless bus in Southeast Asia, demonstrating technological leadership and regulatory trust.

WeRide has reached a critical commercialization milestone with the launch of Southeast Asia's first fully driverless Robobus operations at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. This achievement is particularly significant as it represents the culmination of a methodical development process that began with supervised operations in June 2024 and has now progressed to full autonomy without safety officers onboard - a key technical and regulatory hurdle in the autonomous vehicle industry.

The Land Transport Authority's approval for completely driverless operations demonstrates the maturity of WeRide's technology stack, which includes an advanced sensor fusion system capable of 360-degree obstacle detection at distances exceeding 200 meters. The zero-incident safety record across thousands of trips and tens of thousands of passengers provides compelling validation of system reliability in real-world conditions.

What separates this from typical AV announcements is the clear commercial deployment path. WeRide is operating on fixed routes within a defined operational domain, connecting key locations at Resorts World Sentosa on a 12-minute loop - an approach that balances technological ambition with practical implementation. This incremental approach aligns with Singapore's announced plans to integrate autonomous vehicles into the national public transport network by the end of 2025.

The establishment of a dedicated R&D center with support from Singapore's Economic Development Board indicates a strategic partnership with government stakeholders, which is often crucial for regulatory approval and market access in the autonomous vehicle sector. WeRide's expansion beyond passenger transportation into autonomous sanitation with its Robosweeper deployments demonstrates application diversification, suggesting a multi-product commercialization strategy that could reduce dependency on any single market segment.

SINGAPORE, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced the launch of fully driverless Robobus operations at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore (RWS) — the first autonomous vehicle (AV) in Southeast Asia to operate without a safety officer on board.

Following extensive testing and safety assessments of its remote operations and on-road performance, WeRide has secured approval from the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) to offer fully autonomous rides to the public. This achievement comes after a year of safe service since June 2024, during which the Robobus transported tens of thousands of passengers within RWS and completed thousands of autonomous trips.

“This launch marks a groundbreaking milestone for WeRide and the future of mobility in Southeast Asia. Deploying the region's first fully driverless Robobus demonstrates that our vehicles are safe, reliable, and ready to transform public transportation at scale. We value Singapore's strong regulatory support and our close collaboration with local partners in making this launch possible, reflecting our global approach to working with progressive governments to bring autonomous driving technology into real-world operations,” said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide.

WeRide’s Robobus connects key points within RWS, including Equarius Hotel, Hotel Michael, Hotel Ora, and The Galleria, on a fixed 12-minute loop. Before obtaining approval to offer fully driverless rides, it had been operating as Singapore’s first autonomous bus without a steering wheel and pedals on public roads, with a safety officer on board. Since launch, the Robobus has maintained a zero-incident safety record, supported by an integrated setup of LIDARs, cameras, and sensors capable of detecting obstacles over 200 meters away within 360 degrees.

Last month, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow announced plans to integrate AVs into the national public transport network by the end of 2025, with fully driverless solutions like WeRide’s Robobus expected to deliver strong mobility value. Aligned with this national vision, WeRide has also established a dedicated R&D center in Singapore, with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), to advance AV innovation and deployment capabilities.

“AV technology is an exciting development that has the potential to shape the future of mobility. WeRide is an example of how AV companies can partner with Singapore to undertake AV trials and R&D, and create new jobs such as software development engineers, machine learning engineers and data scientists. We continue to welcome interest from companies to partner with us in driving AV innovation,” said Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President, EDB. 

“LTA has been working with WeRide to facilitate autonomous shuttle trials at Resorts World Sentosa. As part of LTA’s AV assessment framework to ensure the safety and reliability of AV operations, all companies intending to deploy AVs must first pass relevant assessments related to their autonomous capabilities and demonstrate their ability to operate safely on public roads with safety operators onboard without any incident. Once they pass the assessments, they may proceed to remove the onboard safety operator requirement and replace it with constant remote monitoring instead. LTA will continue to work closely with companies that seek to deploy AVs to alleviate manpower constraints, increase productivity and enhance transport connectivity,” said Lam Wee Shann, Deputy Chief Executive (Technology) and Chief Technology Officer at LTA.

WeRide has extensive operations and achieved several industry-first milestones across multiple AV categories. In November 2024, WeRide deployed its Robosweeper S6 and S1 at Marina Coastal Drive and the Esplanade as Singapore’s first commercialized autonomous sanitation project — just a week after securing M1 and T1 licenses from LTA. In March 2025, WeRide commenced trial operations of its Robosweeper S1 in Jurong Lake Gardens, marking its first deployment in Singapore’s heartlands.

Moving forward, WeRide will strengthen collaborations with LTA and various stakeholders across the region to introduce more validated products and scalable business models across Singapore and Southeast Asia.

About WeRide
WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly traded Robotaxi company. Our autonomous vehicles have been tested or operated in over 30 cities across 10 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in five markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing transportation needs in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named in Fortune Magazine’s 2024 “The Future 50” list.

Media Contact
pr@weride.ai

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bce8a301-4d13-4f27-a2e3-a1c615df8352

FAQ

When did WeRide (WRD) launch its fully driverless Robobus in Singapore?

WeRide launched its fully driverless Robobus operations at Resorts World Sentosa on July 17, 2025, becoming Southeast Asia's first autonomous vehicle to operate without a safety officer onboard.

What is the route and duration of WeRide's Robobus service at Resorts World Sentosa?

The Robobus operates on a 12-minute fixed loop, connecting key locations including Equarius Hotel, Hotel Michael, Hotel Ora, and The Galleria.

What safety features does WeRide's Robobus have?

The Robobus is equipped with an integrated setup of LIDARs, cameras, and sensors that can detect obstacles over 200 meters away within 360 degrees, maintaining a zero-incident safety record since launch.

What other autonomous vehicle projects does WeRide operate in Singapore?

WeRide operates the Robosweeper S6 and S1 autonomous sanitation projects at Marina Coastal Drive, the Esplanade, and Jurong Lake Gardens, launched between November 2024 and March 2025.

How long has WeRide's Robobus been operating at Resorts World Sentosa?

The Robobus has been operating since June 2024, completing thousands of autonomous trips and transporting tens of thousands of passengers before receiving approval for fully driverless operations.