SMRT invests in Dutch company to bring driverless vehicles to Singapore

Image credit: 2Getthere.

Singapore’s public transportation company, SMRT, has acquired a 20 percent stake in Dutch autonomous vehicle maker 2Getthere. The two companies had previously entered into a joint venture to install and operate driverless vehicles in Singapore and Asia-Pacific.

SMRT’s stake in the Dutch firm is worth US$4.4 million, according to a joint press release.

From Channel News Asia:

SMRT International managing director Goh Eng Kiat said the Singapore transport operator has been working with 2getthere since 2010.

“We have made this investment as we are confident in 2getthere’s technology and see growing demand for automated vehicles in Asia. We look forward to working together to further expand operations into international markets through the provision of consultancy services and operational expertise with transportation networks,” he said.

The joint venture established between SMRT and 2getthere, 2getthere Asia, remains on schedule to trial the first third-generation Group Rapid Transit (GRT) vehicle in Singapore by the end of this year.

The GRT vehicle isn’t the only one expected to be tested on Singaporean roads soon. The Land Transport Authority said last November it had received eight national and international proposals for driverless public transports.

Meanwhile, Boston-based NuTonomy is already testing its own version of a driverless car in the city-state, and raised US$16 million in series A in May. EDBI, the investment arm of Singapore’s Economic Development Board, joined in that round.

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