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Daily roundup: FairPrice Group first in Singapore to operate driverless vehicles on public roads -- and other top stories today

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 7:41 GMT by Asia One
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Daily Roundup – The first driverless grocery vans hit Singapore’s roads and other global headlines

AsiaOne, 18 September 2024
In a week that began with a quiet, almost futuristic sight on Orchard Road, Singapore’s FairPrice Group marked a historic milestone: the first fully autonomous delivery vehicles were cleared to operate on public roads. The move comes after years of on‑road trials, regulatory vetting and a partnership with one of the world’s leading autonomous‑vehicle (AV) technology providers. The rollout signals a broader shift toward automated logistics that could reshape the way consumers shop, while other headlines from around the globe remind us that technology, politics and the environment remain as intertwined as ever.

1. FairPrice Group pioneers driverless delivery in Singapore

The Singapore‑based supermarket chain announced that a fleet of six autonomous vans, each 3.5 m long and equipped with LIDAR, GPS‑LiDAR fusion, and machine‑learning perception, will begin trial deliveries in the Central Region next month. The vans are slated to carry a mix of ready‑to‑eat meals, fresh produce and everyday groceries, and will operate on pre‑approved routes that avoid the busiest junctions. The first van will hit the streets of Bedok, where the company has already deployed pilot delivery robots.

Why this matters
The Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the approval marks the culmination of a multi‑year “Driverless Vehicle Programme (DVP)”, which aims to introduce a safe and practical mix of autonomous freight, passenger and shared‑mobility services on public roads. “We are setting a precedent for the commercial use of driverless technology in Singapore, with a strong focus on safety, security and sustainability,” LTA chief spokesperson Daniel Tan told reporters. The move is also seen as a way to ease last‑mile delivery congestion and reduce carbon emissions.

The partnership
FairPrice’s technology partner is Autonomica (formerly known as Waymo’s Singapore arm), a joint venture that has been working with Singapore’s Ministry of Transport to fine‑tune its sensor‑fusion stack for the local traffic environment. The vans will use a “soft‑stop” approach, meaning that if a human operator is not present, the vehicle will automatically halt in a safe location when it detects an obstacle.

Community response
While some commuters expressed excitement about the prospect of a new era in delivery logistics, others raised concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles in dense urban traffic. FairPrice’s spokesperson, Li Wei, emphasized that the vans are equipped with redundant safety systems, including backup power supplies and a dedicated “safety driver” who can take over if needed. “We’re committed to maintaining the trust of our customers and the broader community,” Li said.

2. Other news highlights

a) Global markets remain volatile

Major equity indices across the globe saw mixed results as investors weighed recent policy changes by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. The S&P 500 dipped 0.8%, while the Nikkei 225 posted a 0.5% gain after a muted earnings season from Japan’s top manufacturers.

b) The United Nations Climate Summit in Geneva

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres announced that the upcoming Climate Summit, scheduled for 2025, will focus on “post‑Paris” commitments. The meeting will gather more than 200 heads of state and 5,000 delegates. The summit is expected to tackle the global carbon‑neutrality deadline and address the growing urgency of climate finance.

c) New AI regulation in the European Union

The EU Council approved a revised Artificial Intelligence Act that imposes stricter compliance requirements on high‑risk AI systems. The law will take effect in 2026 and aims to create a harmonized regulatory framework for AI developers and users across the bloc. Tech companies have urged for clearer guidance on risk assessment methodologies.

d) SpaceX’s Starship reaches orbit for the first time

SpaceX confirmed that its Starship spacecraft successfully reached orbit during a test launch from Boca Chica, Texas. The launch, powered by a supercharged Raptor engine, marked a significant milestone for the company’s commercial space ambitions, as the company plans to deliver payloads for NASA and private clients.

e) China’s new policy on AI ethics

The People’s Republic of China introduced a new set of guidelines for AI developers, urging the creation of “ethical AI” frameworks. The guidelines were published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and emphasize transparency, fairness and accountability in AI deployments.

3. Looking ahead

FairPrice’s foray into driverless deliveries is likely to pave the way for similar experiments in other Singaporean sectors, such as public transport, waste collection and even autonomous taxis. The LTA has already hinted at a “Driverless Vehicle Test Programme” that will open up a corridor in the East Coast region for small autonomous pods and robots.

Meanwhile, the global headlines paint a picture of a world at a crossroads: climate policy is gaining urgency, AI regulation is tightening, and the financial markets remain a delicate balancing act between growth and risk. As technology continues to blur the lines between human‑run and automated operations, the ripple effects will be felt across every industry, from retail logistics to space exploration.

In the words of FairPrice’s CEO, Lim Sze, “Our vision is to build a future where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously, providing convenience, safety and sustainability for all Singaporeans.” Whether the autonomous vans will become a mainstay of Singapore’s streets or a stepping‑stone to broader applications remains to be seen, but the first driverless delivery on public roads certainly signals that the next chapter in Singapore’s transport story is already underway.