The investment announced last week leverages ComfortDelGro’s US$100 million venture capital fund focused on the field. Ottopia offers a system that lets people monitor self-driving vehicles remotely.

The move fits ComfortDelGro’s strategy of acquiring autonomous-driving technologies through investment or tie-ups rather than developing them on its own. It also has partnered with Israeli automotive chip company Mobileye, aiming to roll out self-driving taxis in Singapore.

ComfortDelGro has brought self-driving technology closer to commercialisation, including operating an autonomous shuttle bus on the campus of the National University of Singapore for over a year.

The company hopes to bring the technology to other markets as well. It has a fleet of 34,000 taxis, buses and rental vehicles across seven countries including Australia, the UK and China.