The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has issued a request for proposal (RfP) to conduct a pilot of six autonomous buses on public bus routes. 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. LTA plans to procure six autonomous buses to commence the pilot in mid-2026 for an initial period of three years. Depending on performance, up to 14 additional autonomous buses may be purchased, potentially expanding the pilot to two more public bus routes.
The bidders are required to provide details of the proposed bus models, fleet management and remote operations systems, electric charging infrastructure, necessary hardware and software for autonomous vehicle operations, and associated maintenance and support services. LTA will evaluate proposals based on the maturity of the technology, the bidder’s track record in local and/or overseas deployments, and the capability to meet the operational requirements of public bus services.
The selected bidder will collaborate with SBS Transit, a bus operator, to develop operational concepts and plans. Initially, buses will operate with bus captains onboard as safety operators. After demonstrating at least six months of reliable autonomous operation, the supervisory role may transition to remote safety operators. LTA will monitor the buses in real-time to ensure safety and compliance, mandating measures such as requiring all passengers to be seated and wear seatbelts. Customer service officers may also be deployed onboard to assist commuters.
