LTA to pilot autonomous public buses in 2026

On 27 January 2025, LTA has launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek out companies or organisations interested in the trial of autonomous public bus services. Through this pilot, LTA aims to assess the technical feasibility of autonomous vehicles (AV) technology and gain insights into the operational aspect of running autonomous buses at both service and fleet levels.

This pilot deployment will start with smaller buses with at least 16 seats, commencing with Service 400 (Marina Bay/Shenton Way) and followed by Service 191 (one-north), which were selected for their shorter and simpler routes and with the latter part of an existing AV test-bed where AV trials have been conducted since 2019.

The chosen tenderer will work closely with SBS (current operator of Services 191 and 400) to develop operational concepts. The initial phase will see the buses operate with bus captains onboard as safety operators and the AVs must meet operating requirements, including safe pick-up and drop-off at all designated stops. The buses will be monitored in real-time by LTA to assess self-driving performance and compliance to regulations, with mandates such as requiring all passengers to be seated and wear their seatbelts. A customer service officer may also be deployed onboard to assist commuters who require help.

LTA will procure six autonomous buses for a start for the pilot, which will operate alongside existing manned buses and slated for deployment from mid-2026 for an initial period of three years. Depending on its performance, up to 14 more buses may be considered, which will enable the pilot deployment to be expanded to two additional bus services.

The RFP is expected to close by the second quarter of 2025, with the contract expected to be awarded by the end of the year.