NDR 2026: Self-driving vehicles could ease bus captain shortage, ageing taxi workforce

Singapore is looking to expand deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV) to address the country's growing transport needs amid manpower challenges, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally 2026 on Sunday (Aug 23).

"It's becoming harder to recruit bus captains. Our taxi workforce is ageing — two-thirds of taxi drivers are already 60 and above," he said in his speech at ITE College Central.

"AVs can help ease these manpower constraints, meet growing transport needs, and keep services reliable."

Self-driving shuttle services have been plying Punggol's roads since the fourth quarter of 2025 and officially opened for public rides this April.

The Land Transport Authority said earlier in July that more than 11,500 people have tried the fixed-route services.

There has been "overwhelmingly positive" feedback from riders, it added.

Six driverless public buses which arrived in Singapore in March for testing are also expected to be deployed in the coming years.

PM Wong said on Sunday that the Government intends to scale up AV technology once it has been proven viable.

Still, he acknowledged the "major concern" that AVs pose to taxi and private-hire drivers, who worry that their livelihood will be impacted.

"So even as we scale up AVs, we will do so progressively," PM Wong stated, assuring affected drivers that they will be retrained and supported into new roles.

He added: "We do not hold back new technologies simply because they are disruptive. But neither do we leave affected workers to fend for themselves.

"We support our workers through the transition. We will ensure that every worker shares in the fruits of Singapore's progress."

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lim.kewei@asiaone.com