Dignitaries, officials and guests will travel in style and comfort at the 2015 Asean Para Games here, thanks to a fleet of 75 cars and three multi-seater commuters - provided by automotive group Cycle & Carriage (C & C).
The cars are Mercedes-Benz E220 luxury sedans (15), Mitsubishi Attrage sedans (30), Mitsubishi Outlander SUVs (15), Kia Forte K3 sedans (10) and Citroen Cactus SUVs (five). The three multi-seater commuters - one 12-seater and two 15-seaters - come from Maxus.
Officials said the deal is worth $660,000, placing C & C in the top tier of sponsors for the Dec 3-9 showpiece which Singapore is hosting for the first time.
It is separate from the transport arrangements for the athletes, who will take either shuttle buses or the MRT to travel between the Games Village at Marina Bay Sands and the Sports Hub in Kallang.
Nine of the 15 sports on offer will be contested there.
C & C managing director (Singapore Motor Operations) Eric Chan said its sponsorship was inked "somewhere in the second quarter" of this year.
He added that it was not in response to a public outcry last month over the MRT being the Games' primary mode of transport for the athletes.
"We have always been sponsoring vehicles for the less privileged so this is an extension of our philosophy," he noted.
One of the 15-seater Maxus has been made wheelchair-friendly for up to three normal wheelchairs and nine other seated passengers.
C & C will sponsor the modified vehicle for an additional two years after the Games for use by the Singapore Disability Sports Council.
Team Singapore chef de mission Raja Singh is the only official out of 92 for the hosts who requires wheelchair assistance.
The former wheelchair racer said: "Having these dedicated vehicles for officials speeds up the process if we need to get to the athletes quickly at any of the venues, especially if an urgent situation arises."
More than 3,000 athletes and officials from 11 countries are expected at the biennial Games.
Singapore Asean Para Games Organising Committee chairman Lim Teck Yin said some 300 dignitaries from the region will also turn up.
"C & C's significant contribution will enhance the Games experience for dignitaries, officials and guests," he noted.
"It all adds to the overall goal of making the Asean Para Games an unforgettable experience for everyone involved."
