Korean Self-Driving Firm Launches Downtown Singapore Shuttle with Grab

**Autonomous a2z Partners with Grab to Usher in Singapore's Autonomous Shuttle Era** Autonomous a2z, a leader in autonomous driving in South Korea, is strengthening its global presence by partnering with Southeast Asia's super app Grab to launch an autonomous shuttle service in downtown Singapore. This collaboration is the fruit of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both companies last March and represents a significant step in exploring the commercial viability and job creation effects of autonomous driving technology in Southeast Asia. **Driving Through Singapore's City Center with Cutting-Edge Technology** Autonomous a2z will operate a 24-seater bus-based shuttle equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving solutions on a 3.9km route connecting Grab's headquarters and One-north MRT station. This service, which began on the 9th targeting Grab employees, includes a trained driver onboard for passenger safety and smooth operation. Notably, over 100 hours of thorough training were conducted to fully adapt to Singapore's local characteristics, including its tropical climate, complex urban environment, right-hand drive vehicles, and left-hand traffic. Through systematic preparation, including data collection, algorithm training, and route testing, a localized autonomous driving system was successfully established. **Smart Operating System Integrated with the Grab App** Passenger convenience has also been prioritized. Integrated with Grab's smart vehicle solution 'CartaDashcam', passenger count and shuttle location information are synchronized in real-time with the Grab app, allowing employees to easily check shuttle schedules and available seats. The shuttle operates for two hours daily, avoiding commuting rush hours, and plans are in place for gradual service expansion as additional training time is secured. **Beyond Technology: Local Job Creation and Talent Development** This collaboration goes beyond mere technology adoption, also contributing to local job creation. Currently, five Grab taxi and car drivers have completed the safety driver training program for shuttle operation, with plans to expand this number to 10 by the end of the year. This presents a sustainable model that remains human-centric even in the era of autonomous driving. **Autonomous a2z's Efforts for a Global Leap** Autonomous a2z has steadily laid the groundwork for its entry into the Singapore market. In 2024, it established the local joint venture 'Autonomous to Global (A2G)' and secured the smart city project 'COSMO', and in May, it achieved the significant feat of becoming the first Korean company to obtain Singapore's autonomous driving license M1. Furthermore, it is demonstrating its technological prowess by installing and operating its self-developed Lidar Infrastructure System (LIS) at Singapore's autonomous driving testbed. Grab emphasized the significance of this collaboration in evaluating the safety of autonomous driving technology and exploring new job creation opportunities, while Autonomous a2z also expressed its ambition to lead the Southeast Asian autonomous driving market by advancing its full-stack technology and localized solutions with the support of the government and relevant institutions.