Car COE premiums expected to rise despite bigger quota

Singapore

HIGHER demand could push certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums up on Wednesday despite the new and bigger COE quota for passenger cars. But news of the increase in COE supply does not seem to have benefited everyone in the car market, and only those manufacturers with stronger brand equity and a newer range of models are enjoying better business.

After the announcement nearly three weeks ago that the November 2014 to January 2015 COE quota will expand by 5.3 per cent, showrooms of some popular brands have been busier while others remained relatively quiet. Makes such as Mazda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai are understood to have seen bookings go up by as much as 100 per cent.