Skip to main content

Singapore to start truck platooning trials

Driverless trucks are set to be trialled on the streets of Singapore under an agreement between the country’s Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) and PSA Corporation and automotive companies Scania and Toyota Tsusho. The two companies will design, develop and test an autonomous truck platooning system for use on Singapore's public roads. The platoon will use public roads while transporting containers between port terminals in Singapore. The aim is to organise convoys of four trucks, with three au
January 10, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Driverless trucks are set to be trialled on the streets of Singapore under an agreement between the country’s Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) and PSA Corporation and automotive companies 570 Scania and 1686 Toyota Tsusho.

The two companies will design, develop and test an autonomous truck platooning system for use on Singapore's public roads.

The platoon will use public roads while transporting containers between port terminals in Singapore. The aim is to organise convoys of four trucks, with three autonomously-driven trucks behind the lead truck, as well as to fully automate the processes for precise docking and undocking of cargo.

With vehicles in Singapore approaching one million, the initiative seeks to address the increasing travel demand and land constraints; 12 percent of Singapore’s total land is used for road and land transport infrastructure. Additionally, it faces a shortage of drivers.

It has therefore established Singapore as a “living laboratory” for new vehicle concepts that will increase productivity, road safety, optimise road capacity and enable new mobility concepts.

The truck platooning trials will take place in two phases. The first phase will focus on designing, testing and refining the truck platooning technology to adapt to local conditions. These will be conducted by Scania and Toyota at their respective research centres in Sweden and Japan, to leverage their existing development work. The second phase will consist of local trials and development of the technology in Singapore.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hungary’s $159m AV test track gears up
    June 1, 2020
    Construction of the Zalazone project started in 2017 and is on schedule
  • App informs drivers of delays during Long Beach bridge replacement
    June 6, 2014
    David Crawford previews a work zone travel breakthrough. In February 2014, the Port of Long Beach in California launched what it claims is a groundbreaking construction zone navigation aid - LB Bridge mobile app. The app is designed to help drivers during the Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement programme by keeping them up to date on activity and the ensuing traffic diversions when construction starts in summer 2014. The unusually content-rich app is designed to convey current project news (enlivened by phot
  • Volvo and NTU to bring autonomous electric buses to Singapore
    January 12, 2018
    Volvo Buses and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have partnered on a two-year research and development program for autonomous electric 12-metre buses as part of the Land Transport authority's drive to create new solutions for sustainable transport. The buses will arrive at the start of 2019.
  • Singapore piloting next-gen congestion management
    July 5, 2012
    NXP Semiconductors has announced it has begun testing a next-generation congestion management system in Singapore. Cars equipped with the company’s 3.5G telematics solution ATOP (automotive telematics on-board unit platform) are currently piloting this urban modern mobility solution.