Wheel Insights

Why records set in 2022, and now 2023, could hint at the new normal in post-pandemic COE prices.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights to Singapore's mobility trends and the vehicle quota system, which includes the Certificate of Entitlement (COE).

During the previous April 19 tender, the COE premium - for smaller cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp, as well as for electric vehicles (EVs) with up to 110 kilowatts of power -  crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time.

It reached a record high of $103,721, up 7.48 per cent from the previous high of $96,501 at the April 5 tender.

New records were also set in the larger car and Open categories. Records set in 2022, and now in the first quarter of 2023, seem to hint that this could be the new normal in post-pandemic COE premiums. 

To help take stock of it going into the next bidding round on May 4 at 4pm, ST’s podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts his colleague and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:20 Impact of the psychological barrier being broken for Category A (smaller and more affordable cars)

4:35 How demand for the COE pool has become complicated with the entry of fleet buyers in past few years

6:55 Expectations: Companies driving demand versus private individuals who are not "downgraders from Cat B"

8:12 The foreseeable scenario in the next three-month cycle in the COE quota from May to July, with fewer available for cars

11:55 Why the spotlight on soaring motorcycle COE premiums? On LTA’s move to quell speculative bidding by dealers

Read LTA raising deposit for motorcycle COEs: https://str.sg/ioeu

Read Christopher Tan’s article here: https://str.sg/ioeL

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Fa’izah Sani and Paxton Pang

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

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqgu

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

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

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

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): 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

---

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why new 5-digit motorcycle COE prices matter to you even if you don't ride.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights to Singapore's mobility trends and the vehicle quota system, which includes the Certificate of Entitlement (COE).

The certificate of entitlement (COE) is the permit needed for a vehicle to be used on the road in Singapore. The price of COEs - set by an open tender exercise - has been making the news throughout 2022, repeatedly setting record highs, pushing up the cost of owning a vehicle - and by extension, the cost of transportation all round.

The next tender exercise closes at 4pm on Feb 8, 2023.

In this episode, podcast editor Ernest Luis and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe try to "crystal ball" the results: Will it go up? Or down?

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:50 Up or down? More than 100 million dollars were collected in a single COE tender in December 2022

3:14 Why COE prices matter to all in Singapore, even if you are not looking to buy a new car

4:12 A 'gap week' that will influence how the COE price will develop

5:28 A motorcycle COE now costs more than $10,000; why it matters

7:30 Why COE cannot crash overnight; explaining the new calculation method to determine the supply of COEs

13:29 When to put in a bid if you want to get your own COE

Read more here: https://str.sg/wt8p

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim 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

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqgu

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

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

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

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): 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

---

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#coewatch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.