Singaporean taxi operator ComfortDelGro hopes robotaxis can future-proof the industry, as aging populations lead to fewer drivers

The largest taxi operator in Singapore For the first time The first robots in China to help “dispense with the future” in the future, as the high income and population of aging makes it difficult for companies to find drivers.

Comfortdelgro, No. 128 in Southeast Asia 500, will participate, with autonomous, autonomous vehicles start. The pilot starts for two years with a small fleet of Lexus RX450 vehicles, and will expand to another models throughout the program.

The company, which also runs bus and metro services, in Singapore and abroad, hopes that the partnership will help it prepare for the lack of upcoming employment.

“The development of independent vehicle technology is very important in dispensing with the future transport industry,” Coch Siac Kayan, CEO of ComFortdeelgro, said in a statement. “With the continued shortage of drivers in a global issue, we explore innovation solutions to ensure that the movement remains within their reach and effective.”

Comfortdelgro, through its Pony.ai partnership, hopes to have experience in managing the independent taxis fleet. Company Work A global fleet of more than 33,000 taxis and private cars worldwide, including more than 9500 in China.

Pony.AI is allowed to operate independent mobility services in Chinese cities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Church.

“Guangdong is the most populated boycott of China and provides us with the opportunity to build our capabilities in independent vehicles in a mature ecosystem,” said a spokesman for Comfortdelgro, told Commortdelgro. luck.

Detamentation processing

During an interview with luck Last September, Cheng expressed his concerns about the lack of taxi drivers due to the aging of the population. He said, “It is now time to start looking at it,” where technology becomes strong (and) reasonably mature. ” Comfortdelgro CEO has suggested that robotics can complete, instead of replacing it, human operation programs by filling the gaps in coverage.

Asia has some of the lowest fertility rates in the world, especially in countries such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea and China. The population of working age is shrinking, which is a threat to companies and industries that depend on human employment.

In 2022, Commortdelgro invested $ 30 million in Singapore ($ 22.5 million) to develop their ability to operate and maintain independent cars, and build a technical platform to support Robotaxi services.

Other companies are heading to robotics as a reaction to the elderly Asian population. Honda and Nissan Partnership With Japanese taxi operators to launch self -driving taxi services, also due to a lack of drivers.

This story was originally appeared on Fortune.com