The Business Times
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COMMENTARY

Instead of a separate COE category, make private-hire cars bid for open certificates

The open category already exists for COE flexibility. What better place for vehicles with both private and commercial functions?

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Derryn Wong

Derryn Wong

Published Wed, Mar 12, 2025 · 05:00 AM
    • Shifting private-hire cars to Category E would remove them from competition with most private passenger car buyers.
    • Shifting private-hire cars to Category E would remove them from competition with most private passenger car buyers. PHOTO: BT FILE

    [SINGAPORE ] Industry players and disgruntled car owners have called for private-hire cars (PHCs) to get their own Certificate of Entitlement (COE) category, as a perceived way of hiving off demand.

    But the Ministry of Transport (MOT) rejected this on Mar 5, after a long review.

    As constantly changing PHC demand makes it hard to determine a suitable quota, their share of COEs is best left to the market to decide, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor.

    COERide-hailing

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