By the end of the year, those in Singapore will have a new way to get around: Driverless pods.

The vehicles, developed by a company called 2getthere, can operate autonomously even in inclement weather conditions, using artificial landmarks for navigation. 2getthere formed a joint venture with Singapore transportation company SMRT Services to supply and operate its third-generation Group Rapid Transit (GRT) vehicles in the Asian nation, as well as the larger Asia-Pacific region.

GRT vehicles can carry up to 24 passengers, and handle up to "8,000 passengers per hour in any single direction," potentially easing traffic woes on Singapore's busy roads, the companies said in their announcement. There's no word about the price of the project, though 2getthere said its driverless vehicles can operate as a "low-cost" automated transit system.

The pods essentially operate like "a horizontal elevator," 2getthere explains on its website. Passengers select their destination when they hop on, and the vehicle will stop at every station selected.

In a statement, 2getthere chairman and founder Carel van Helsdingen said he expects the Asia-Pacific region to be a "high growth sector for innovative transport technologies" in the coming years. "Our innovative technology will be able to optimize the efficiency, reliability and safety of transport networks," in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

Meanwhile, SMRT Services Managing Director Colin Lim said the new pods will offer "seamless connectivity for commuters."

"There is a growing national push to implement future mobility solutions that can meet our first and last-mile connectivity needs in Singapore," Lim said in a statement.