Waymo said it will expand its autonomous ride-hailing operations to Singapore, with the service expected to begin accepting passengers in 2028. The company indicated that its vehicles will arrive in the coming months to begin preparation activities including mapping and testing phases. During 2027, Waymo plans to conduct autonomous testing with human safety drivers operating the vehicles on Singapore roads.
Before launching passenger services, Waymo must obtain approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. The regulatory process requires all autonomous vehicles to pass safety assessments at the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research, which has developed evaluation procedures in coordination with local traffic authorities. Waymo has already established corporate operations in Singapore earlier this year and participates in the country’s Steering Committee on Autonomous Vehicles.
Singapore has positioned itself as a leader in autonomous vehicle deployment, with local regulators having approved autonomous freight delivery services, self-driving street cleaners, and autonomous shuttle buses for airport operations. The market has also hosted previous robotaxi testing, including a pilot program conducted by Motional in 2016.
The Singapore expansion represents part of Waymo’s broader international strategy. The company has announced robotaxi launches in London by the end of 2026, Tokyo in 2027, and Munich in late 2027, which will mark its first European Union deployment. Domestically, Waymo operates approximately 4,000 vehicles across roughly 15 U.S. cities and has announced expansion into Nashville, Denver, San Diego, and Las Vegas this year. However, the company has faced regulatory obstacles and opposition preventing entry into major U.S. metropolitan areas including New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC.
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