Grab’s US$60M Bet on Remote Driving Signals Singapore’s AV Leadership

SINGAPORE, Nov 11 — Grab Holdings announced a US$60 million investment in US-based remote driving firm Vay Technology, boosting its shares over 6% in premarket trading. This move positions the Southeast Asian giant to integrate teledriving—where operators remotely steer vehicles to users for self-drive—into its ride-hailing ecosystem, eyeing autonomous vehicles as the future of mobility.

Grab CEO Anthony Tan emphasized a “hybrid model” blending driver expertise with AVs and remote services for Southeast Asia. Additional US$350 million hinges on Vay’s milestones in revenue, US city expansion, tech-safety standards, and regulations. Vay’s Las Vegas service, launched in January 2024, exemplifies this: teledrivers deliver cars to customers for manual control.

Remote Driving

This aligns with Singapore’s pioneering AV push. In 2025, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) rolled out driverless buses on fixed routes and autonomous shuttles in Punggol, partnering with WeRide for Level 4 Robobuses at Resorts World Sentosa and Grab’s Ai.R robotaxi trials. Pony.ai teamed with ComfortDelGro for 12km Punggol routes, while Baidu eyes Apollo Go launches. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow’s China visits spurred Q4 pilots, emphasizing safety amid dense urban challenges. With mandatory liability insurance and evolving regulations, Singapore aims for 90% public/shared transport by 2040, cementing its Asian AV hub status.

Recap:

Singapore‘s Land Transport Master Plan 2040 (LTMP 2040) aims to achieve a public/shared transport mode share of 90% by the 2040s, as part of its vision for a “45-minute city” and “20-minute towns”. This goal aligns with the nation’s efforts to cement its status as a leading Asian hub for autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. 

Key aspects of the LTMP 2040 and related initiatives include:

• Targeted Mode Share: The primary goal is for 90% of all peak-hour journeys to be made on public or shared transport options.
• AV Integration: Autonomous vehicles are a key component of this vision, intended to supplement existing public transport and provide “first-and-last mile” connectivity.
• Deployment: Singapore is actively testing and plans to deploy AV buses and shuttles in residential and industrial towns, with the aim of eventually incorporating them into the main public transport fleet to alleviate manpower shortages.
• Cleaner Energy Fleet: As part of its long-term environmental goals, Singapore has pledged to have a 100% cleaner energy public bus fleet and fully transition all taxis to cleaner energy models by 2040.
• Enhanced Connectivity: The plan involves expanding the rail network, introducing more Transit Priority Corridors (TPCs) for buses, and developing new regional hubs to bring jobs closer to homes, all of which reduce overall travel times.
• Infrastructure: The government is investing in infrastructure changes, such as more EV charging points and smart traffic control systems, to support the transition to electric and autonomous transport options.