Sentosa is set to introduce an on demand shared autonomous vehicle service in early 2027, giving visitors a new way to travel between the island’s hotels, beaches, restaurants and attractions. The pilot programme is a partnership between Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and TADA Mobility (Singapore) Pte Ltd, starting with two autonomous vehicles developed by WeRide.
The service aims to make getting around Sentosa more convenient by offering direct connections between popular destinations. It will complement the island’s existing buses and beach shuttles, with a network of 27 pick-up and drop off points planned for progressive rollout.
The autonomous vehicles will use service roads along Siloso Beach and Palawan Beach, as well as public roads across the island. This will allow visitors to reach beachfront attractions and restaurants more directly, without having to transfer to a beach shuttle. The pilot will mark Sentosa’s first on demand shared transport service to cover such an extensive network of locations.
Unlike services that follow fixed routes, the new offering will allow visitors to book rides according to their needs. The vehicles will be able to bypass certain pick up and drop off points along predetermined routes, helping passengers reach their destinations with fewer unnecessary stops. Each vehicle can accommodate up to eight guests and will have a safety operator on board.
The pilot builds on Sentosa’s initial autonomous vehicle trial in 2019, but introduces a different operating model focused on on demand travel. Through TADA’s ride booking platform, visitors will be able to request rides using a familiar app-based experience. GPS data will help identify the nearest available pick up and drop off points across the island.
Visitors can also scan QR codes displayed on on site wayfinding signage to access information about the service and its pick up and drop off locations. Rides will be complimentary during the pilot period, which is scheduled to operate daily from 1pm to 7pm.
The initiative will assess how shared autonomous transport can reduce waiting times, improve journey predictability and shorten connections between transport nodes, hotels and attractions. Sentosa and TADA are also exploring potential enhancements to the passenger experience, including voice commentary highlighting nearby attractions and points of interest.
The vehicles are developed by WeRide, an autonomous driving technology company whose vehicles have been deployed in more than 60 cities across 13 countries. SDC and TADA will work with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to ensure the service operates under the required safety and operational protocols.
Each vehicle will have remote monitoring capabilities to support timely assistance when needed. Onboard digital signage and announcements will also provide passengers with relevant information during their journeys.
Before public rides begin, SDC and TADA will conduct further trials to validate routes, booking arrangements, boarding procedures and safety measures. Findings from these tests will help the partners assess how autonomous vehicles can operate alongside Sentosa’s existing transport network and contribute to the island’s longer term mobility plans.
The service will be introduced in phases to account for operational readiness, regulatory requirements and visitor demand. The first phase is targeted for early 2027 and will cover western Sentosa, connecting hotels, beaches and attractions around Siloso, Imbiah and Beach Station.
Subsequent phases are expected to extend coverage to the rest of the island, subject to regulatory approvals from the LTA. The phased approach will allow Sentosa and TADA to evaluate the service before expanding its reach to more visitors and destinations.
