What happened
Waymo announced Singapore as next international robotaxi city, targeting 2028 commercial launch.
Waymo announced on 18 September 2026 that Singapore will be its first Southeast Asian market, with a fully autonomous ride-hailing service targeted for 2028.
The plan calls for trained autonomous specialists to conduct initial manual-driving runs in 2027 so the Waymo Driver can learn local road geometry and monsoon weather, ahead of a public passenger launch the following year. An all-electric Jaguar I-PACE fleet will arrive in the coming months for mapping and testing.
Waymo, which runs roughly 4,000 vehicles across 15 US cities and was valued at $126 billion in February 2026, is also expanding to London by end-2026, Tokyo in 2027, and Munich later that year.
In Singapore, every autonomous vehicle must pass a safety assessment at the CETRAN AV Test Centre under an LTA, CETRAN, and Traffic Police framework before it can operate on public roads. Waymo has already set up a local corporate entity and joined the Steering Committee on Autonomous Vehicles.
Regulatory hurdles and political opposition have kept Waymo out of major US cities including New York, Chicago, and Washington DC, pushing the company to grow overseas.
Expansion timeline
- End 2026 — London launch
- 2027 — Tokyo launch + Singapore manual testing
- Late 2027 — Munich + Singapore public launch
Singapore regulatory framework
- LTA + CETRAN + Traffic Police safety assessment required before public-road ops
- CETRAN AV Test Centre (NTU) handles AV safety testing
Why it matters for me
Singapore passengers could hail fully autonomous rides from 2028 after 2027 testing and LTA safety clearance.
Daily Life
General Public
Singapore residents could gain access to fully autonomous ride-hailing from 2028.
Work
Mobility Policy Watchers
LTA CETRAN framework will govern Waymo's safety assessment before public-road ops.
Money
Tech Enthusiasts
Waymo's $126B valuation and overseas push signal growing robotaxi investment in Asia-Pacific.
What to remember
Waymo's first Southeast Asian market — Singapore 2028 — follows London, Tokyo, and Munich in its global expansion.
Waymo targets Singapore for its first SE Asian robotaxi launch in 2028 after Jaguar I-PACE testing.
Verified sources (3)
Waymo says Singapore will be its next international robotaxi city
↗Waymo to bring autonomous ride-hailing to Singapore in 2028
↗Autonomous Vehicles — AV Safety & Testing (CETRAN AV Test Centre)
↗Claims and linked sources
7 claimsWaymo announced on 18 September 2026 that it plans to launch a commercial, fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Singapore in 2028, its first Southeast Asian market.
An initial fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles is expected to arrive in Singapore in the coming months for mapping and autonomous testing with human safety drivers behind the wheel in 2027.
Waymo needs approval from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA); all AVs must pass a safety assessment at the CETRAN AV Test Centre before operating on public roads.
Waymo also plans a London launch by end of 2026, Tokyo in 2027 (Japan's first fully autonomous commercial taxi service), and Munich, Germany in late 2027 as its first EU expansion.
Waymo operates roughly 4,000 vehicles across about 15 US cities and was valued at $126 billion in February 2026 after a $16 billion funding round.
Regulatory hurdles and political opposition have kept Waymo out of major US cities including New York City, Chicago and Washington DC, pushing growth overseas.
Waymo established a corporate entity in Singapore earlier in 2026 and participates in Singapore's Steering Committee on Autonomous Vehicles (SCAV).
Community signals
Signal-only · not reporting“Singapore has built one of the safest, most efficient, and most forward-thinking transportation ecosystems in the world.”
“Singapore welcomes Waymo's entry as our newest autonomous vehicle operator.”