WeRide has started an autonomous robot shuttle service on Singapore’s Sentosa holiday island.

Working with Resorts World Sentosa and EZ Buzz, WeRide launched its Robobus shuttle service, marking the official opening of Singapore’s first publicly accessible, level-four autonomous bus route for passenger operations.

The shuttle route spans 1.2km with four stops along the way, taking approximately 12 minutes to complete. Hotel guests and tourists can board the Robobus at the nearest stop.

Since obtaining Singapore’s M1 and T1 public road licences for autonomous vehicles in December 2023, WeRide has rapidly deployed the Robobus, setting a benchmark for implementation speed.

Last month, Singapore minister Alvin Tan visited Sentosa to inspect and experience the autonomous driving shuttle. He later shared on social media: “Two months ago, I visited WeRide’s autonomous technologies at their headquarters in Guangzhou. Yesterday, I witnessed their AV application here at Resorts World Sentosa.” He also noted that integrating autonomous vehicle technology allows for a more productive use of limited manpower resources and ensures more sustainable and scalable transport.

As Asia’s premier lifestyle destination, Resorts World Sentosa (www.rwsentosa.com) combines Universal Studios Singapore, Sea Aquarium, Dolphin Island, Adventure Cove Waterpark, a cluster of five-star luxury hotels, an integrated resort, multiple theme parks, and numerous celebrity chef restaurants.

The Robobus is a purpose-built level-four autonomous driving minibus, specialising in micro-transit. It has been deployed and operated in nearly 30 cities worldwide, widely used in key cities, major passenger airports, luxury resorts and popular tourist attractions.

WeRide’s development in Singapore has been swift with the consecutive commercial deployments of the Robosweeper and Robobus.

In the future, WeRide (www.weride.ai) will continue to collaborate with local partners to bring more validated products and business models to the Singapore and south-east Asian markets. The aim is to provide autonomous driving services to local citizens and tourists, contributing to the development of smart transportation systems in the region.

Established in 1981, EZ Buzz (www.ezbuzz.com.sg) has more than 40 years of experience in the transportation industry, providing transportation services for different needs and industries, whether it’s a school bus for students, minibus for employees or a coach bus or limousine chauffeuring guests.