Singapore, April 1, 2026, 22:51 SGT
Grab Holdings Limited rolled out Singapore’s first autonomous public ride service in a residential area Wednesday, deploying a handful of shuttles in Punggol alongside Chinese self-driving tech firm WeRide. The company reported that over 1,000 early riders have tried out the fleet, which has now covered more than 30,000 km. Alejandro Osorio, Grab’s Singapore managing director, said the initiative aims to blend autonomous transport into everyday commutes and prepare driver-partners for shifting job roles.
Timing is key here. Grab wants investors to see its tech bets as margin drivers, not just another side project. Last week, the company announced plans to repurchase up to $400 million in shares. CFO Peter Oey labeled the sharp drop in the stock a “clear opportunity” for boosting shareholder value, reiterating the company’s $1.5 billion adjusted EBITDA goal for 2028. Adjusted EBITDA, the company notes, excludes certain items from operating profit. Q4 CDN
Back in February, President and COO Alex Hungate told Reuters that Grab is aiming for annual revenue growth above 20% through 2028, and described reinvesting in Southeast Asia as the company’s “first and best” use of its cash. Hungate said ride-hailing in the region has moved away from subsidy-driven expansion, with a sharper focus now on profitability. That shift, he noted, puts automation and AI front and center in Grab’s strategy, not just as experiments but as key business drivers. Reuters
The Land Transport Authority in Singapore is opening up Routes 1 and 3 to public rides in autonomous vehicles from April 1. Trips will be free initially, with a S$4 flat fare rolling out in mid-2026 as revenue service begins. According to the agency, the AV shuttles promise to cut some commutes by as much as 15 minutes. Safety and operations will stay tightly supervised throughout.
WeRide has been pitching the financial benefits ahead of rollout. On March 16, the company claimed its GXR platform might slash autonomous driving suite costs by half and cut total cost of ownership by 84%. Founder Tony Han described Southeast Asia as a “core growth market”. Grab’s autonomous head, Dominic Ong, said the Singapore pilot aims to highlight how the tech could help local communities as regulations and infrastructure catch up. WeRide Inc.
Just days after Grab inked a $600 million deal to acquire Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda Taiwan unit—marking its first foray beyond Southeast Asia—the company confirmed it expects the transaction to wrap up in the second half of 2026. The deal is projected to contribute at least $60 million in incremental adjusted EBITDA by 2028.
Expansion hasn’t quieted investor skepticism. Back in February, Grab projected 2026 revenue between $4.04 billion and $4.10 billion—short of what Wall Street was looking for. Peter Oey said Grab would hold the line on ride prices, aiming to attract new users, especially as consumers cut back on non-essential spending.
The bigger headache for Grab isn’t limited to the robotaxi bet. In January, Reuters flagged that Indonesia is weighing draft rules that could cut commission caps down to 10% from the current 20%. Platforms—Grab and rival GoTo included—would also be on the hook for additional insurance and social costs for drivers. That’s a direct hit to margins in Southeast Asia’s biggest ride-hailing market.
Grab’s Singapore debut throws it into a contest that’s speeding ahead elsewhere. Back in December, Reuters said Uber and Lyft were planning UK robotaxi pilots. WeRide? It already teamed up with Uber for fully driverless trips in Abu Dhabi and kicked off passenger rides in Dubai. The story here: the sector is rapidly shifting beyond test runs and safety drivers, inching closer to limited commercial use.
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