Ride-hailing platforms extend help to drivers affected by Autobahn car repossessions
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The National Private Hire Vehicles Association, National Taxi Association, Land Transport Authority and platform operators want to help drivers return to the road as quickly as possible.
PHOTO: ST FILE
- Autobahn Rent A Car suspended operations, leaving private-hire car drivers without vehicles after its application for creditor protection failed.
- NPHVA, NTA, LTA, ComfortDelGro, Grab and Strides Premier are helping affected drivers with vehicle access and financial support, like waived deposits.
- LTA has received information that some Autobahn cars lacked valid insurance, and the company must inform hirers and ensure vehicles aren't used without it.
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SINGAPORE – ComfortDelGro (CDG), Grab and Strides Premier are offering their vehicles on favourable terms to private-hire car drivers whose vehicles were repossessed by creditors of Autobahn Rent A Car.
All three platform operators have waived the security deposit for these drivers, among other terms such as additional incentives to recover lost income and free rental for the first three days.
Announced on Jan 7, the initiative was a collaborative response from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and the National Taxi Association (NTA), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the platform operators.
The previous day, The Straits Times had reported that Autobahn Rent A Car, which supplied cars to private-hire drivers, was suspending operations
The associations, LTA and the platform operators said in a joint statement that their priority is to help affected drivers get back on the road as quickly as possible, noting that drivers were left without a means of earning a living when their vehicles were recently repossessed by Autobahn Rent A Car’s creditors.
The company’s application to the High Court for protection against creditors was dismissed on Dec 26, 2025
NPHVA, an affiliate of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), represents private-hire vehicle drivers, while NTA is an association for all taxi drivers in Singapore.
Ms Yeo Wan Ling, adviser to NPHVA and NTA and assistant secretary-general of NTUC, said: “We know this situation has created significant hardship for affected drivers, and we have engaged a number of them.
“Drivers depend on their vehicles to earn a living, and we take their livelihoods seriously... NPHVA and NTA will continue to work with LTA and platform operators to protect and support our drivers.”
The three platform operators, which have their own vehicle-leasing arms, are waiving deposits for affected drivers to reduce the upfront cost of renting a vehicle.
Other support measures include additional platform incentives by CDG and Grab to help drivers recover lost income, and Strides Premier offering free rental for the first three days.
NTUC is offering help to affected members on contractual matters relating to Autobahn Rent A Car.
In the joint statement, LTA said it had received information that some of the cars from the company do not have valid motor insurance because the policies were cancelled or not renewed. Valid insurance and road tax are mandatory.
Through its lawyer, the car leasing company said on Jan 6 that it was suspending operations because of operational constraints and the cancellation of insurance for the vehicles.
On its Facebook page, NPHVA said it was organising engagement sessions for affected drivers.
