For subscribers
Commentary
COE discussion requires an uncomfortable conversation
The 33-year-old quota system is part of a larger plan to check congestion, but has evolved into something which Singapore seems to be relying solely on to keep traffic moving.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The COE system was mooted in 1989, in recognition of the fact that rising affluence would render existing car taxes less effective over time.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE – Factors behind the unrelenting rise in certificate of entitlement (COE) prices
The leading one is the unbridled growth of private-hire car fleets and, in tandem, access to easy financing. Since their arrival 10 years ago, the total private-hire car population has ballooned by nearly five times to 78,106 as at August 2023, while the private car population has inched up by merely 6.4 per cent to 574,473.
