Grab announces that the brand is preparing to introduce autonomous buses in Singapore next year.
The company outlined a strategy to gradually combine autonomous vehicles with human-operated services.
Rather than fully removing driver roles, Grab says some workers could move into new positions such as remote vehicle monitoring, data labelling, or hardware maintenance.
Grab’s management said these roles would be part of a longer-term transition aimed at supporting both ride-hailing and delivery operations while improving efficiency.
CEO Anthony Tan told investors the approach will differ across markets, noting that countries with higher labour costs may adopt autonomous systems sooner than others. He added that Grab will work with regulators and training partners to help drivers adjust.
However, labour groups and some drivers worry that retraining programs may not provide enough stable or well-paying jobs to replace traditional driving income.
The pace of adoption will depend on safety approvals, local regulations, and the economic viability of operating autonomous fleets.
Grab says the future of driving will be hybrid, but whether drivers benefit will depend on how many new roles are created and how secure they are.
Will this hybrid approach really protect drivers’ jobs, or will it mostly shift risks onto them?
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