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In Singapore where car prices remain one of the highest in the world, this lifestyle of sharing a car even at a cost does look like it can never go wrong. At least this is the direction Honda Diracc is looking towards with its new car port and ongoing addition of new cars.
Local car-sharing company, Honda ICVS Singapore seems to have found its niche of users from the drivers and the public transport users. In slightly over 3 years, it has seen a steady increase in its members to the current lot of 1600 members. Members have to pay a registration fee, a monthly subscription as well as for the travelling each time.
Local car-sharing company, Honda ICVS Singapore seems to have found its niche of users from the drivers and the public transport users. In slightly over 3 years, it has seen a steady increase in its members to the current lot of 1600 members. Members have to pay a registration fee, a monthly subscription as well as for the travelling each time.
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Singapore users seem to be showing encouraging signs of taking to this culture, as Singapore is the only place in the world Honda Diracc has set up base.
According to Mr Hisao Kobayashi, the Managing Director of Honda ICVS Singapore, Honda Diracc members consist of commuters who maximise their savings through a mix of public transport and car sharing in their daily travelling. The majority of users comprises mainly of working professionals in their twenties and thirties.
To cater to them, there is a corporate membership as well as a smart card that can be used on the bus and train as well as to drive the Honda Diracc car.
To cope with this increase, it is venturing into the heartlands with a new car port at the HDB hub in Toa Payoh with another two ports in Singapore by the end of next year. This is so even as COE prices dropped drastically with an increase in vehicle quota recently.
According to Mr Hisao Kobayashi, the Managing Director of Honda ICVS Singapore, Honda Diracc members consist of commuters who maximise their savings through a mix of public transport and car sharing in their daily travelling. The majority of users comprises mainly of working professionals in their twenties and thirties.
To cater to them, there is a corporate membership as well as a smart card that can be used on the bus and train as well as to drive the Honda Diracc car.
To cope with this increase, it is venturing into the heartlands with a new car port at the HDB hub in Toa Payoh with another two ports in Singapore by the end of next year. This is so even as COE prices dropped drastically with an increase in vehicle quota recently.
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"As petrol prices remain volatile, we remain committed to promote car-sharing as a practical and cost-effective alternative for uban dwellers...in turn reduce traffic congestion and help reduce the problem of insufficient parking spaces," Mr Kobayashi added.
In this direction, Singapore to Honda Diracc looks like a testing ground for its research on the concept of car-sharing, and cost although a factor did not figure quite prominently when it was brought out at the press conference.
The future Honda Diracc car will see an overhaul with a upgraded version of the On-Board Unit (a data processing and communication device) that will enable more value-added services like the display of real-time traffic information.
Other car-sharing companies in Singapore include NTUC's Car Coop and WhizzCar.
In this direction, Singapore to Honda Diracc looks like a testing ground for its research on the concept of car-sharing, and cost although a factor did not figure quite prominently when it was brought out at the press conference.
The future Honda Diracc car will see an overhaul with a upgraded version of the On-Board Unit (a data processing and communication device) that will enable more value-added services like the display of real-time traffic information.
Other car-sharing companies in Singapore include NTUC's Car Coop and WhizzCar.