Wheel Insights

From parents of newborns to riders who dismantle their motorcycles to evade repossession, this man has seen them all.

Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.

What happens when a hire-purchase car goes missing or when a marriage turns sour and the fighting parties want their assets back? They call on repossessors like Mr Jim Koh, who has been in the repossession-cum-towing trade for nearly 20 years.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

2:31 The difference between a towing service and repossessing a vehicle

5:10 Repossessing a vehicle can turn nasty

14:41 Job hazards of being run over or pelted with eggs

21:54 When Jim is compassionate when repossessing vehicles

27:39 Advice for those looking to join the trade

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#wheelinsights

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“Money not enough” - not even raising fares can fix current school bus woes.

Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.

School bus fares are constantly rising, and yet operators are saying that ferrying pupils to schools is a loss-making venture with little way out. Mr Darry Lim, 44, who grew his father’s bus company from eight to 38 buses, says that the troubles facing the industry are only worsening as a sizeable number of local drivers are leaving the trade every year. 

Darry is the director of Hui Leong, a private transport company and serves as the transport officer of the Singapore School Transport Association which represents mainly self-employed school bus drivers.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

2:21 More drivers than buses are needed

4:11 Shrinking local driver population also means a cut in foreign drivers because of the allowable foreign worker quota, worsening the situation

7:05 A driver’s typical working day start at 5.30am to pick up the first pupil

15:40 The international school student chips in

19:15 “I might be dead before I can pay off the bus!”

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more Transport articles: https://str.sg/KHyM

Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#wheelinsights

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Improve your chances of getting a ride on a wet Friday evening with some hacks from this experienced cabbie.

Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.

Mr James Quak is among the 89,000 qualified taxi drivers in Singapore. In this episode of Wheel Insights, the 49-year-old sheds light on how taxi drivers work out their share of the vehicle rental and how they decide which ride booking to take. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:35 The difference between being a taxi hirer and a “relief driver”

5:41 How much driving time makes up for daily taxi rental 

13:59 Why taxi drivers don't look out for street-hailers

17:46 How much taxi drivers benefited during the East-West Line MRT disruption in September 2024

23:01 The reason why taxi drivers always seems to be changing shift during peak travel hours

25:39 Advice for those considering joining the trade

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more Transport articles: https://str.sg/KHyM

Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#wheelinsights

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology is advancing at such a pace as Chinese electric vehicle brand Xpeng is aiming to prove to the global market.

Synopsis: In this special episode, The Straits Times' Lee Nian Tjoe meets Mr He Xiaopeng, the chairman and chief executive of Chinese electric vehicle brand, Xpeng.

By 2025, Xpeng cars will bring the driver from door-to-door with barely any human intervention and in 2026, it plans to deliver its first flying vehicle. 

Xpeng is using automated driving technology to make driving safer and more relaxing.

The target, Mr He says, is to make the cars behave like “good drivers” on the road, adapt to local conditions and behaviours.

Concurrently, the company is taking to the skies. Its first flying vehicle will reach customers in 2026. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:55 By 2025, Xpeng’s drivers will only need to step in to take control once or twice per 100km covered

3:45 Level 5 autonomous driving means that the vehicle can handle itself in all conditions, whether it is a typhoon or an earthquake

5:25 Automated driving technology does not mean drivers will lose their jobs

7:00 Flying cars? 

8:46 How Xpeng picks its markets and goes about entering them

9:35 On why only a minority of car companies in China today will survive in the next five to 10 years

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim and Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A university professor says his students are not keen on owning a car, while a motor industry expert says that they would, if cars were affordable. 

Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends.

In this episode, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe invites Associate Professor Raymond Ong from the National University of Singapore, who wrote an opinion piece published in The Straits Times in August which said that the current price of certificate of entitlement (COE) needed to register a mass-market car is more affordable to households in Singapore today than it was in 2013. His other guest is motor trader-turned-consultant Say Kwee Neng.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:15 The reality at the showrooms, where the age of car buyers has changed from 10 years ago 

12:05 Car-leasing firms for private hire have changed the game in the demand for COEs

26:20 The danger of the sense of defeatism in youths when cost of a car has reached far beyond their means

35:00 COE and car taxes in deterring ownership "have past a use-by date"

42:00 How much to pay under a distance-based road pricing system or a satellite-based system?

Read Assoc Prof Ong's article for ST: https://str.sg/yKAg

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A motor industry expert connects popular culture to the success of Chinese car brands in Singapore.

Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends.

BYD is leading the sales chart in Singapore and other Chinese car brands are also making their way here. In a market where the total number of vehicle registrations is capped, the success of the newcomers comes at the cost of incumbent players.

Dr Victor Kwan, who was in the motor trade for more than 20 years before joining academia, explains what is driving this trend and whether it is sustainable.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:15 The reason for the appearance of so many new Chinese car brands in Singapore

8:20 What BYD Is doing right

22:00 The pressure to develop the charging infrastructure to spur the desire for electric cars

24:50 What dealers think about when deciding to bring in a car brand

38:00 Chinese car brands are here to stay

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the evolution of MRT lines to buses, wider cycling paths and committing to being “car-lite”, our veteran transport reporter tells all. 

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.

In the second part of the conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe hosts long-time senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times - Christopher Tan - to talk about how he got into journalism, and what has been driving him all these years.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 On how Chris Tan once found out how much it cost to build the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway

5:30 Chris recalls when he first raised the idea of the bus contracting model way before it was started, to help raise service levels 

7:00 Debates on building a new MRT line: Why the Rail Financing Framework is good for the overall network

9:00 “Build ‘em and they will come”; positive knock-on effects

14:00 Why it is fair for Singaporeans to expect more from the public transport system

17:37 Christopher Tan retiring from full-time work end-July 2024; his plans

Listen to Pt 1 of Lee Nian Tjoe's conversation with Chris Tan here: https://str.sg/3EEQd

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read Christopher Tan's articles: https://str.sg/ohcVq

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Follow COE Watch Podcast here:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A veteran transport reporter tells us what can be done to bring down COE prices and how to buy a new car.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.

In the first of a two-part conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Christopher Tan, senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, to get a grip of the current COE system. 

He also shares his journey as a veteran reporter, having been with SPH since 1983. This was four years before Singapore had its first MRT Line, and before the Land Transport Authority was established. 

He also offers tips on how to shop for a car and recounts some of his most memorable drives, having tested more than 3,000 cars and counting. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:00 Why newsmakers are often wary of Christopher Tan from The Straits Times

6:00 Recounting his “embarrassing” first car review

12:00 How electric vehicle adoption will peak around the world

16:10 What flying a helicopter is like

26:00 Reviewing a car fairly for the reader, not the car company 

27:55 The impact of high COE prices on drivers and non-drivers alike

Listen to Pt 2 of Lee Nian Tjoe's conversation with Chris Tan here: https://str.sg/9y73

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Follow COE Watch Podcast here:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read Christopher Tan's articles: https://str.sg/ohcVq

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

---

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This car-sharing service managed to convince the government to allow them to match private car owners to hirers.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.

Car-sharing causes traffic congestion because the cars are more heavily used; the cars tend to be abused by the hirers; and in the event of an accident, the insurance excess to pay will be stratospheric - beliefs that Mr Dirk-Jan Ter Horst disagrees with. 

The Dutch co-founder of peer-to-peer car sharing platform Drive lah, which has been matching private car owners to hirers since 2019, speaks with host Lee Nian Tjoe to make sense of it all. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:02 Using data to convince the Land Transport Authority that peer-to-peer car-sharing works.

13:20 The secret ingredient to running a “two-sided marketplace”.

22:59 Driving a rental car into Malaysia

25:50 Why a resident in Marine Parade hires a car in Jurong. 

35:01 Being a good host 

43:14 The goal is to make cars accessible to the public. 

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow COE Watch Podcast here:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

---

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A seasoned motor industry insider says the COE system is bad for health because of the stress that comes with not knowing “the full picture”.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore seems to be tracking well. In 2023, 18.2 per cent of all new car registrations were EVs. This was up from 11.7 per cent in 2022.

In this episode, host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Ms Sabrina Sng, managing director at Wearnes Automotive. This seasoned motor dealer - with 20 years of experience - believes that uncertainty over the price outlook of certificate of entitlement (COEs) is discouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

This is worsened by what she considers to be a premature cut in incentives to encourage EV adoption. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

7:30 Call for changes to the COE bidding system - why motor dealers want to cut out companies, like those in private hire, from bidding for COEs because they distort the market

12:00 Reduction of various incentives to encourage EV adoption came too soon 

19:38 High COE premiums have pushed up prices of EVs, diminishing the distinction  between premium and mass market

21:40 Making the case for EVs to have higher tax rebates

26:42 Does Tesla still have an edge in the automotive world?

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow COE Watch Podcast here:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

---

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.