Waymo says Singapore will be its next international robotaxi city

Waymo said it intends to begin offering fully autonomous ride-hailing in Singapore by 2028, marking its next international robotaxi market. The company plans to send vehicles to Singapore “in the coming months” to start mapping the city and to conduct autonomous testing with human safety drivers during 2027 as it prepares for a public launch the following year. Before Waymo can accept passengers, it must obtain regulatory clearance from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. The city-state requires all autonomous vehicles to complete a safety assessment at the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research (CETRAN), a program developed by the LTA with input from the Traffic Police. Waymo said it is working toward meeting those requirements as part of its rollout timeline. Singapore has positioned itself as a hub for autonomous-vehicle trials, having approved autonomous freight delivery systems, road sweepers, and self-driving buses used by airport staff. U.S. robotaxi operator Motional previously ran a pilot in Singapore in 2016. Waymo has already established a corporate entity in the city-state and joined its Steering Committee on Autonomous Vehicles, signaling engagement with local regulators and industry stakeholders. The Singapore announcement comes as Waymo pursues multiple international launches. The company has said it plans robotaxi services in London by the end of 2026, Tokyo in 2027, and Munich in late 2027. Domestically, Waymo has expanded into new U.S. markets this year — including Nashville, Denver, San Diego, and Las Vegas — and operates roughly 4,000 vehicles across about 15 American cities. At the same time, regulatory and political challenges have limited deployment in several major U.S. cities, and Waymo appears to be accelerating international growth as part of its broader strategy.