Grab to Pilot Delivery Robot in Singapore District

Southeast Asian tech company Grab will launch a pilot of its first delivery robot in Singapore’s Punggol district in late 2026. The robot, named Carri, will automate delivery for the first and last 100 meters, such as taking a package from the roadside to an apartment’s front door. Grab estimates this step takes up 10% of a driver’s working time.

Chief technology officer Suthen Paradatheth said the company sees autonomous vehicles as useful in supply-constrained markets. He added that over 70% of Grab’s deliveries are over two kilometers, but the stages before and after the journey are tedious for drivers.

Seven other companies, including DHL and local startup Quikbot, will also pilot technology in Punggol. Grab’s robots will focus on food delivery while other firms automate parcel delivery, cleaning, and security patrols.

Grab sees robots as an additional source of data that complements information from human drivers and merchants. Paradatheth said adding robots will provide greater richness of real-time data and more opportunities for optimization. Singapore’s digital development and information minister Josephine Teo said the government will create an integrated data platform and design test scenarios that enable robots to operate safely across the district.

Grab is working with Chinese automated driving firm WeRide to roll out Singapore’s first fleet of autonomous vehicles, starting with a self-driving shuttle bus. The company has also invested in AV startups including May Mobility and Momenta. Grab signed a partnership with OpenAI in 2024 to improve accessibility, mapping and customer support.

On May 20, OpenAI announced 300 million Singapore dollars of investment toward Singapore’s AI capabilities.