# Singapore Limits Car Population Growth Amid Public Transport Concerns Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow faces public scrutiny over vehicle ownership and infrastructure capacity. - **Source:** [The Independent SG](https://theindependent.sg) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4f1fd69c-a31b-4f5f-96b1-ae4cd96edf2b ## Land Constraints Limit Growth Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow stated that Singapore cannot significantly increase its car population. Currently, passenger vehicles and roads occupy over 12% of the nation's total land area. This physical limitation forces the government to rethink vehicle ownership policies to prevent further congestion in the densely populated city-state, which currently hosts 660,000 passenger vehicles. ## Proposed COE Scheme Changes The government is evaluating a new Certificate of Entitlement (COE) structure. This proposal includes merging vehicle categories A and B into a single passenger car class. A fee-and-rebate system, or feebate, based on vehicle value is being considered to regulate demand. Public consultations for this policy change concluded on November 2, 2024. ## Public Support and Feedback Minister Siow reported that a majority of respondents support the proposed changes to the COE categorization. However, the proposal has sparked intense debate among citizens regarding the necessity of private vehicles. While the government seeks to manage car numbers, many residents argue that current public transport infrastructure is insufficient for their daily needs. ## Public Transport Reliability Concerns Singaporeans expressed significant frustration on social media platforms regarding the current state of the MRT system. Critics claim the network has become slower, more crowded, and less frequent over time. Many residents argue that the pressure to own a car would naturally decrease if the public transport system were truly world-class and faultless. ## Time Efficiency and Infrastructure Commuters highlighted a stark disparity in travel times, noting that driving can take 30 minutes while public transport requires 90 minutes. Residents pointed out that the current infrastructure prioritizes road space over rail capacity. Without express train options or faster cross-island bus services, many citizens feel forced to pursue car ownership despite high costs. ## Support for Large Families During parliamentary sessions, MP Tin Pei Ling raised concerns regarding the needs of large families who require vehicles for daily logistics. In response, Minister Siow indicated that the government is currently studying the feasibility of a transport grant option. This measure aims to provide relief to families disproportionately affected by the restrictive vehicle policies. ## Global Comparisons and Costs The debate includes conflicting views on the quality of Singapore’s public transport compared to international standards. While some foreigners praise the MRT, locals argue that affordability and indefinite vehicle usage in other countries make comparisons difficult. The high cost of car ownership in Singapore remains a central point of contention for many residents. ## Future Policy Implications The government faces the challenge of balancing land scarcity with the mobility needs of a growing population. As the administration moves forward with the feebate system, the focus remains on whether public infrastructure can be improved enough to reduce reliance on private cars. Future policy success depends on reconciling these competing public demands. ## Sources covering this story - https://theindependent.sg/transport-minister-jeffrey-siow-says-car-population-can-t-grow-much-more-but-singaporeans-have-a-lot-to-say — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._