Punggol’s Future is Here: Driverless Shuttles Hit the Streets!

The future of commuting has officially arrived in Punggol! Starting January 12, 2026, residents are being invited to step into the future—literally—as Singapore’s first community trials for autonomous shuttles kick off.

If you’ve seen those sleek, bright purple vehicles with amber beacons cruising around the neighborhood, you’re looking at the latest innovation in our public transport network. Here is everything you need to know about this exciting trial.

---

What’s Happening?

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has launched the community testing phase for autonomous vehicles (AVs). While these shuttles have already clocked over 10,000km of incident-free testing, this new phase invites selected Punggol residents and stakeholders to experience the ride firsthand before the service opens to the general public in a few months.

The First Route: Connecting the Dots

The first route, operated by Grab in partnership with WeRide, focuses on enhancing connectivity between the western and eastern parts of Punggol.

• Distance: 10km loop

• Key Stops: * Punggol Matilda Court

  • Punggol Clover

  • Punggol Plaza (Wet Market/Malls)

  • Oasis Terraces (Polyclinic)

• Time Savings: Expected to shave up to 15 minutes off current travel times.

Quick Facts for Commuters

Feature	Details
Operating Hours	Weekdays, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Frequency	Approximately every 15 minutes
Cost	Free during the trial phase
Capacity	5-seater and 8-seater variants
Safety	A trained Safety Operator is on board at all times

---

How Can You Join the Trial?

Currently, participation is by invitation. LTA and grassroots organizations are reaching out to residents through various community channels. If you are one of the lucky ones invited:

1. No Pre-booking: For the first Grab-operated route, you can simply hop on at designated points.

2. Live Tracking: You can track the shuttle’s location and schedule in real-time via the Grab app.

3. Give Feedback: Your input is vital! Ambassadors and surveys will be available to collect your thoughts to help refine the service before the full commercial launch.

Why Punggol?

Punggol was chosen for its compact layout and tech-savvy population. These shuttles aim to solve the "first-and-last-mile" problem, making it easier for residents to get from their doorsteps to essential hubs like the polyclinic or the MRT station without needing a car.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning. Two more routes are in the works:

• Route 2 (Grab-WeRide): Connecting Punggol West to Punggol Northshore and the new Punggol Coast Mall.

• Route 3 (ComfortDelGro-Pony.ai): Linking Punggol East to the North, accessible via the CDG Zig app.

Singapore aims to have up to 150 autonomous vehicles deployed island-wide by the end of 2026. If the Punggol trial is a success, the new forest town of Tengah is slated to be next!

---

Have you spotted the purple shuttles in your neighborhood yet? Would you like me to help you find the specific pickup point locations for Matilda Court or Punggol Clover?