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Waymo in Singapore

124 points · 160 comments · ramanan

  1. shell0x · · focus · HN ↗
    A basic commuter car costs over S180,000( US135,000) due to a compulsory 10-year quota license (COE/certificate of entitlement) that alone costs S$100,000+, plus registration taxes scaling up to 320% of the car's base value. Total running costs (tolls, parking, road tax) easily add S1,000–S2,000+ per month.

    Singapore is so small though and cabs are cheap and I never needed a car. I can see why Waymo will be very attractive.

    1. vachina · · focus · HN ↗
      If you never needed a car in Singapore then why is the COE so expensive? COE price is determined from a bidding process.
      1. eru · · focus · HN ↗
        One part: the people running the taxis and Grab also need to bid for slots.

        And if you have kids, being able to leave stuff in your car is pretty useful, so you might want to bid.

        Though I guess the main reason is: Singapore is rich, so that drives up the bidding.

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