Cars, Kereta

fatz2

Singapura : 8 Januari 2009         
  
HARGA COE KEKAL RENDAH

HARGA sijil hak milik (COE) kenderaan masih kekal rendah dengan kegawatan ekonomi dilihat menjadi faktor ia kekal pada paras sekarang.

COE bagi kereta kecil iaitu di bawah 1,600 cc turun kepada $5,001 setelah tender ditutup semalam - turun sebanyak 19.3 peratus berbanding premium sebelum ini.

Harga COE kereta melebihi 1,600 cc naik sebanyak 16.3 peratus kepada $3,089. Namun, harganya dilihat masih rendah sejak sistem kuota kereta diperkenal pada 1990.

Harga COE bagi kategori terbuka pula ialah $5,701 - turun sebanyak 12.4 peratus. Ia merupakan harga terendah bagi kategori itu sejak beberapa bulan kebelakangan ini.

Premium bagi kenderaan komersiol pula ialah $3,502 - lebih rendah berbanding sebelum ini sebanyak 12.5 peratus.

Harga COE bagi motosikal juga turun sebanyak 5.6 peratus kepada $1,000.

Para pengedar kereta menjangka kadar COE akan meningkat secara sederhana pada tender yang bakal dibuka dua minggu nanti.

Namun mereka menjangka harga COE mungkin turun dengan banyak selepas Tahun Baru Cina.

Sejumlah 5,918 taruhan diterima dalam taruhan kali ini dengan 4,322 berjaya memperolehi COE.

fatz2

Govt paid $410m to motorists to scrap cars

[top: The scheme, which began last September, allows motorists scrapping their cars to claim rebates in cash instead of credits.]

By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

SINCE the Government began offering cash rebates last September to motorists who scrap their cars, it has paid out more than $400 million.

The sum was for about 18,000 cars and is part of a four-month-old plan to encourage more motorists to switch to public transport.

For the three decades before that, scrap rebates were given as credits, which car owners used to offset taxes on a new vehicle.

If they did not wish to buy another car, they had to sell the credits to motor traders, often at a sizeable discount. Experts have said that this encouraged some owners to keep on driving.

Observers, however, reckon that even the new cash rebates may not prompt motorists to switch to buses and trains.

'Politically, it's a very nice move,' said retired motor trader Lee Chiu San. 'But in practice, it's not so easy. Cars are a very difficult habit to kick.'

Still, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is happy with the plan, which saw $410.1 million in cash rebates disbursed up to the end of last month. 'We are pleased that so many have taken advantage of the scheme,' a spokesman said. 'With this flexibility, owners have the option to keep the cash and switch to public transport.'

About 80 per cent of people who scrapped their cars opted for cash.

However, the LTA could not say how many would not buy another car.

The bold policy change appeared to be the death knell for the so-called scrap paper trade, a once-thriving business that saw dealers buy up scrap rebates from car owners at discounts of up to 8 per cent.

They then sold them to new car distributors at smaller discounts, pocketing the difference as profit.

But the impact is smaller than expected. Motor traders said margins from scrap paper trade had already plunged before the change because of an oversupply.

Some car agents were reluctant to buy rebates because of fraud cases in the past.

Parallel importer and used car dealer Albert Kek of KS Kek Agency said the paper trade has already dwindled. 'There are no more scrap papers out there because people can now get a full refund from the Government,' Mr Kek said.

Others point out that car owners who owe the bank a sizeable loan will still need a middleman to help get the refund. This is because the LTA will not disburse the cash if the vehicle still has an outstanding loan.

According to the Transport Ministry, the scheme will not influence certificate of entitlement (COE) supply as the COE quota is still largely determined by the number of vehicles scrapped.

Meanwhile, analysts expect the policy change to have an impact on government expenditure. Cash refunds per year could range from $1 billion to $2 billion.

Citigroup economist Kit Wei Zheng said: 'The Government will require to set aside provisions each year for the cash refund. This means it could be in for a bigger deficit.'

christan@sph.com.sg

fatzcomel

Jan 22, 2009
Big car COE fall to $200
By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent



COE prices tumbled in the pre-Budget tender, with the premium for cars above 1,600cc diving to $200 yesterday from $3,089 two weeks ago.

COEs for cars up to 1,600cc, the mainstay of car buyers, also ended down at $2,693 - half the value of the previous tender.

Motor traders had been bracing themselves for certificates of entitlement to fall through the floor after Chinese New Year, but the big tumble came early.

The Open COE, which can be used for any vehicle type but ends up mainly with car buyers, collapsed to $3,200 - the lowest level in over a decade.

Could prices get any lower?

'How can it be worse than this?' asked Cycle & Carriage's general manager (Mitsubishi) Alvyn Ang.

The bloodbath was not confined to car premiums. The COE for vans, trucks, lorries and buses sank to $2,900, also one of the lowest prices ever. Two weeks ago, it was $3,502.

Demand for commercial vehicles has softened significantly as businesses hold back on new purchases in the light of the current economic slowdown.

The motorcycle COE finished at $900 - the first time it has gone below $1,000 since March last year.

Yesterday's COE tender attracted a total of 5,239 bids, 11.5 per cent fewer than the previous tender. Said Mr Koh Ching Hong, managing director of Toyota agent Borneo Motors: 'It only shows that there are not enough orders in hand.'

The weak sales came despite offers of free COEs. Honda agent Kah Motor and Mitsubishi agent Cycle & Carriage last week advertised cars that came with a COE thrown in for free.

Mr Ron Lim, general manager of Nissan distributor Tan Chong, said the results were not surprising given the weak market. What is surprising though, he said, was how the usually resilient Open COE had plunged too.

'The market is flooded with Open COEs, and some companies may still have fast-expiring certificates,' he said.

Car COEs are valid for six months, but the Open COE, which is transferable, is valid for three. If not used to register a vehicle in that time, it becomes worthless.

Car prices are expected to fall yet again with the latest results, although no one had decided last night by how much.

'We believe there are still buyers waiting out there, and we will come up with attractive packages to draw them in,' said Mr Koh of Borneo Motors.

Motor Traders Association president Ms Tan Kheng Hwee said: 'It is truly, truly a buyer's market now.'

fatzcomel

Car dealers, car rental business expect gloomier outlook after Lunar New Year
By Channel NewsAsia's news team | Posted: 24 January 2009 2116 hrs



SINGAPORE: COE prices have plunged, with the premium for big cars nosediving to S$200 recently.

Despite that, industry experts said sales will most likely go down after the Lunar New Year.

To attract more customers, Honda is absorbing the COE premiums for small and big cars.

Vincent Ng, Honda's product manager, said: "In the past, COE levels were very high and it's not within our profit margin to absorb the COE. But at this level, we are still able to do so."

With the promotion, sales have gone up slightly.

But with fewer people deregistering their cars, coupled with economic uncertainties and the upcoming reduction of the COE quota, dealers are cautious about the future.

Mr Ng said: "One of the biggest cut will come from the allowed (vehicle) growth which the Transport Minister has already announced...it's going to be cut from 3% to 1.5%. That itself will already result in more than 13,000 COEs being taken away from the quota next year."

Meanwhile, the Lunar New Year week is the peak period for car rental business.

But for this year, companies said business has dropped 20 to 30 per cent.

Even enquiries fell by some 40 per cent, said a company.

Car rental firms said they will probably have to reduce their fleet of cars after the Lunar New Year, as they expect a further decline in business.

- CNA/ir

reddots

nak tanya skit..
Borneo Motors tu ada kaitan ngan Singapore Motors ker??
adeh... abes la aku, buat soklan bodo..

bukan apa, kat brunei ni ada company Singapore Motors..err rasanya la..bisnes berkaitan ngan keta...

SweetCandy

nvrmind reddots. .cuma sc tahu ada champion motors, tunggu yg lain jawab eh.

miezarra_27

reddots...
nope... they are not related...

Borneo Motors is one of the leading car distributors selling Toyota & Lexus cars...
As for Singapore Motors...it is actually a web portal for used car exports..


The Web Portal

Singaporemotors.net, the web portal is designed to serve the world market with used car exports out of Singapore.
It is also a platform and a market place for over 450 used car dealers from Singapore to offer their daily stock updates.

fatz

Singapura : 5 Februari 2009        
  
COE KENDERAAN KEKAL RENDAH WALAU PENJUALAN HUJUNG MINGGU RANCAK

HARGA sijil hak milik (COE) kenderaan kekal rendah dalam taruhan terbaru yang ditutup semalam.

COE bagi kereta 1,600cc ke bawah seperti Honda Fit dan Toyota Axio merosot kepada $1,020 - kurang separuh daripada harga yang dicatatkan dua minggu lalu.

Walaupun COE bagi kereta 1,600cc ke atas meningkat daripada paras $200 kepada $689, ia kekal antara yang terendah dalam sejarah.

COE bagi kategori terbuka pula mencapai $3,000, merosot daripada $3,200 sebelum ini. Ia juga antara yang terendah.

Harga COE bagi kenderaan barangan merosot kepada $2,590 (berbanding $2,900) dan harga COE bagi motosikal mencapai $701 (berbanding $900).

Harga yang lemah itu dicapai walaupun penjualan pada hujung minggu agak rancak.

fatzcomel

Singapura : 10 Februari 2009        
  
SKIM BAGI PEMBELI TAHU KERETA JIMAT MINYAK

PEMBELI akan mengetahui adakah kereta yang hendak dibeli mereka jimat minyak petrol apabila Skim Label Jimat Minyak (FELS) berkuat kuasa mulai 1 April.

Di bawah skim itu, semua penjual kereta dikehendaki menayangkan label jimat minyak bagi kesemua model kereta yang dijual mereka.

Langkah tersebut diperkenal bagi membantu meningkatkan kesedaran awam tentang kecekapan tenaga.

Ini diumumkan Menteri Sekitaran dan Sumber Air, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, di Parlimen semalam.

'Kami menganggarkan seseorang pemilik boleh menjimatkan sehingga $900 setahun dalam penggunaan minyak dengan menukar kepada kereta yang menjimatkan minyak dan mengamalkan cara memandu baik.

'Kami sedang bekerjasama dengan pihak industri untuk menyiapkan mereka dengan FELS dan akan menimbangkan maklum balas mereka dalam pelaksanaannya kelak,' kata Dr Yaacob.

Agensi Sekitaran Kebangsaan (NEA) akan juga melanjutkan pengecualian yuran pendaftaran bagi model alat hawa dingin dan peti ais di bawah Skim Label Tenaga Wajib (MELS) hingga 30 Jun 2010.

Pengecualian tersebut kini merangkumi alat pengering baju di bawah MELS dan kenderaan di bawah FELS.

Untuk meningkatkan kecekapan penggunaan air, semua paip air dan pam tandas akan mempunyai label kecekapan air mulai 1 Julai ini.

Ini bagi memastikan penguna membuat pilihan bijak dengan menggunakan alat-alat yang menjimat air.

Menurut Dr Yaacob, kerjasama dengan pihak industri bagi projek tersebut bermula pada 2006 dan kementeriannya akan memastikan ia berjalan dengan baik.

fatzcomel

Feb 11, 2009
Great time to buy used cars
Prices of many close to scrap value; best buys are big premium models
By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent


Used cars for sale at Automobile Megamart at Ubi Avenue 2. Plunging resale values - as a result of lower new car rates and the weak economy - have brought many used car prices close to their scrap value. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

WHILE ultra-low certificate of entitlement (COE) prices are making it a great time to shop for a new car, it is now an even better time to consider the merits of buying used.

Plunging resale values - thanks to lower new car rates and the weak economy - have brought many used car prices close to their scrap value.

The best bargains lie with big premium models, which are bearing the brunt of the battered market. Often, a two-year-old model can be had for nearly half the price of a new car.

Because of the economic crunch, there have been some distress sales too. Last week, a 2006 Mazda RX8 sports car went for $55,000 - less than half the price the original owner paid for it. A new one today costs $107,000.

Motor trader Eddie Loo of Car Times said: 'The best buys are the 2005, 2006 cars. They are selling at close to their scrap values. For instance, an end-2005 BMW 740Li is going for $150,000.'

If the car was scrapped and re-exported, it would fetch around $120,000.

And consumers are wising up to the bargains. According to the Land Transport Authority, around 29,500 cars changed hands last year - the most in four years.

Mr Michael Ong, chief executive of a management consultancy company Capstone Capital, recently bought himself a 2006 BMW 730Li for $148,000. A new 7-series starts at $318,000 today.

Mr Ong, 48, said it was his first used car in 'eight to nine years'.

'I'm happy with the car. Although it's nearly three years old, it's well maintained and is like a new car,' he said. 'The price was also good - less than half the price of a new car. And it came with a one-year warranty against all defects.'

Analyst Lim Jit Soon of Nomura Singapore said used cars often make more financial sense than a new car.

'If you do the maths, buying a used car provides better value.'

He said used cars depreciate less yearly. 'The depreciation of a new car is lower only if you keep it for 10 years. But not many people keep their cars for that long. The average is five years,' he explained.

In fact, motor traders point out that low resale prices are a huge drag on new car sales - more so than weaker consumer sentiment and tighter credit. 'It is the main thing that is holding back sales,' one trader said. 'No one is willing to suffer that kind of depreciation.'

For instance, someone who bought a 2006 BMW 750Li for $380,000 must be willing to lose $200,000 on it today, the owner of a 2006 Mercedes-Benz S500L priced at $409,000 will take a $210,000 hit, and a Lexus LS460 of the same age has devalued by $170,000.

Retired motor trader Lee Chiu San said a hot topic at dinner parties today is: 'How do I sell my car?'

Two main factors contribute to the plunge in resale values: the substantial slide in COE prices in recent months, and the weakened economy. The latter has dampened demand for cars everywhere.

Motor traders said re-export prices have fallen by two-thirds from a year ago as main export markets, such as New Zealand and South Africa, have dried up.

Although buying used may seem like a win-win deal, there is one point buyers must be wary of. 'Make sure you buy from a reliable and reputable car dealer,' Mr Ong of Capstone Capital said.

'I once bought a car from a second-hand dealer and found that it had a major accident and was 'repaired' by joining the front and back of two different cars together. It was cheap, but I had to sell the car as scrap soon after.'

christan@sph.com.sg

fatz

Singapura : 13 Februari 2009        
         
PARLIMEN

SISTEM KUOTA, OPC DISEMAK UNTUK KAWAL KENDERAAN

PEMERINTAH akan menyemak Sistem Kuota Kenderaan (VQS) dan Skim Kereta Hujung Minggu (OPC) tahun ini bagi mengawal jumlah kenderaan di jalan-jalan raya di sini.

Membentangkan kedua-dua inisiatif tersebut di bahas belanjawan di Parlimen semalam, Menteri Pengangkutan, Encik Raymond Lim, berkata semakan pada VQS itu termasuk mengubah metodologinya agar jurang antara jumlah kuota Sijil Hak Memiliki (COE) Kenderaan yang dikeluarkan dengan jumlah kereta yang dibatalkan pendaftarannya adalah kecil.

Menurutnya, Penguasa Pengangkutan Darat (LTA) akan mengeluarkan 83,789 kuota COE tahun ini.

Jumlah itu merupakan pengurangan sekitar 24 peratus berbanding tahun kuota (Quota Year) 2008.

'Langkah ini akan meningkatkan tahap respons sistem itu, namun mungkin terdapat ketidakpastian tentang kuota yang dikeluarkan.

'Oleh itu, sebagai langkah semakan, LTA akan merujuk industri kenderaan bermotor,' ujar Encik Lim.

Menjawab pertanyaan Ketua Jawatankuasa Parlimen Pemerintah (GPC) bagi Pengangkutan, Encik Cedric Foo, tentang Skim OPC, Encik Lim berkata ia akan disemak tahun ini bagi menarik dan memudahkan lebih ramai pemilik kereta menggunakannya.

'Skim OPC ini harus digalak. Ia memenuhi keseluruhan objektif untuk mengurus kesesakan lalu lintas di jalan-jalan raya dengan lebih baik, terutamanya semasa waktu sibuk, dan ia membantu meredakan kadar ERP,' ujar Encik Lim.

Sebagai permulaan, kementeriannya mengenal pasti tiga bidang utama. Pertama, LTA akan menyemak cara-cara memudahkan pengguna skim tersebut membeli lesen harian OPC dengan melaksanakan skim lesen elektronik, menggantikan lesen kertas yang digunakan kini.

Kedua, melaksanakan pemberian rebat tunai kepada yang menukar kereta kepada skim OPC.

Sebelum ini, rebat tunai hanya dibayar setelah sesebuah kereta itu dibatalkan pendaftarannya, dan;

Ketiga, kementeriannya akan meninjau kemungkinan memperluas waktu larangan bagi OPC, terutama pada Sabtu, dengan membuat sedikit perubahan pada kadar cukai skim tersebut.

Dalam pada itu, satu inisiatif baru bagi meningkatkan mutu perjalanan dan meningkatkan penyepaduan pengangkutan awam turut dibentangkan Encik Lim.

Inisiatif Perancangan Bas Berpusat yang bakal dilaksanakan LTA hujung tahun ini bertujuan menjadikan laluan bas lebih efektif dan mudah bagi para pengguna.

Sebelum ini, segala perancangan laluan dilakukan pengendali bas.

Beliau juga memberi jaminan bahawa segala faktor daya maju kewangan tidak diketepikan sewaktu melakar perancangan tersebut.

Selain itu, beberapa inisiatif berbasikal turut dibentangkan, antaranya membina lorong basikal di lima estet perumahan - Tampines, Yishun, Sembawang, Pasir Ris dan Taman Jurong.

Bermula 15 Mac ini, basikal lipat dibolehkan untuk dibawa di dalam kereta api dan bas awam pada waktu-waktu lengang, hujung minggu dan cuti umum menyusuli skim percubaan enam bulan yang berakhir baru-baru ini.

fatz

24% fewer COEs this year, Vehicle Quota System under review
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 February 2009 1751 hrs

Car showroom

SINGAPORE : The number of Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) available this year will be about 24 per cent lower compared to last year.

A total of 83,789 COEs will be available for this quota year, which starts from May and ends in April next year.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim said part of this quota is to allow the vehicle population to grow by 1.5 per cent, a target set under the Land Transport Masterplan announced last year.

Bidding under this quota will start in April this year.

The drop in COEs available came as no surprise. It is in line with a previously announced move to reduce the annual vehicle growth cap from 3 per cent to one and a half per cent.

And more changes are set to take place. Mr Lim said his ministry is looking at tweaking the Vehicle Quota System.

When the transport ministry comes up with its annual COE quota, it looks at two things - the 3 per cent caps and the expected number of vehicles that will be deregistered.

One common complaint in the past was that there was a mismatch between the number of deregistrations projected by LTA and the actual numbers.

"Such forecasts have inherent inaccuracies and the net vehicle growth rate may turn out higher or lower from the targeted rate," said Cedric Foo, GPC (Government Parliamentary Committee) Chair for Transport.

Mr Lim acknowledged this. "This is not to say the COE system does not work. It does, because any errors in projections are always corrected in current or subsequent years," said the transport minister.

However, he added the system could be improved. One possible approach is more frequent reviews.

"It will improve the responsiveness of the system, but there will, however, be trade-offs, such as more uncertainty over the quota released," said Mr Lim.

And so, the LTA will consult the motor vehicle industry as part of its review.

Meanwhile, the ministry is also looking at ways to enhance the Off-Peak Car Scheme to attract more motorists to make the switch.

Currently, there are about 42,000 such cars on Singapore roads - that is an eight-fold increase over the last three years. However, there have been complaints - from limited hours of use to cumbersome paper licences.

So, three areas are being looked at.

1) Replacing paper licences with tamper-proof electronic ones
2) Giving cash rebates to motorists who convert their normal cars to off-peak cars, instead of when the car is deregistered
3) Relook at the restricted hours where off-peak car owners can drive freely. They have long lobbied for full-day free use on Saturdays instead of half a day.

However, such measures may come with changes in the tax breaks such motorists now enjoy. - CNA/ 938 LIVE/ls

sutera_abadi

Bestnya...

Originally posted by fatz at 13-2-2009 07:49 AM
) Relook at the restricted hours where off-peak car owners can drive freely. They have long lobbied for full-day free use on Saturdays instead of half a day....

SweetCandy

beshnyer & this is wat i have been long waiting for ..syukran

fatz

COE prices up sharply after news of lower quota
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 February 2009 1658 hrs



SINGAPORE: Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices have gone up across the board in the latest bidding exercise.

At the close on Wednesday, the premium for big cars jumped S$4,200 to S$4,889, while that for small cars rose S$3,440 to S$4,460. In the Open Category, where the COEs are usually used to buy cars, the premium went up S$2,889 to S$5,889.

For goods vehicles and buses, the COE price was S$1,600 higher at S$4,190. The premium for motorcycles meanwhile rose S$100 to S$801.

Car dealers said the jump in COE premiums was due mainly to the government's recent announcement that it will cut the COE quota this year by 24 per cent.

However, observers said the industry is struggling to maintain itself during the economic downturn.

Vincent Ng, product manager of Honda agent Kah Motor, said: "Most of us are selling our cars at little profit or no profit. I would even speculate that some of us are making some sales at a loss. So in the short term, it's not so good."

Car dealers said they expect the COE premiums to hover around the current levels, adding that it is unlikely there will be sharp spikes despite the impending cut in COE quota.

- CNA/ir

fatz

Pump prices down by 3 cents for all grades of petrol
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 19 February 2009 1703 hrs

SINGAPORE: Good news for motorists. Pump prices in Singapore have gone down slightly.

Shell was the first to revise prices downwards by 3 cents for all grades of petrol at 2pm on Thursday.

Caltex, Esso and SPC followed suit shortly after.

Regular 95 petrol now costs S$1.566 per litre, while diesel stands at S$1.183 per litre.

The latest revision comes just a month after petrol prices went up two consecutive times this year.

- CNA/ir

fatz

Porsche spends $500,000 on Changi roadshow

SINGAPORE is shaping up nicely as a motorsports hub. So much so, in fact, that Porsche Asia Pacific will look at setting up a Porsche Sport Driving School here.

The Porsche Sport Driving School offers a comprehensive range of performance driving programmes under the guidance of certified instructors. Porsche sports cars are used to develop these skills, which are said to be a solid foundation for those interested in entering formal racing or club events.

Currently, the only Porsche Sport Driving School in the region is at Mount Cotton, near Brisbane, Australia.

But when the permanent race track at Changi is built, its location beside Changi Exhibition Centre will create the "perfect combination", says Porsche Asia Pacific's managing director Christer Ekberg.

"These two sites will really complement each other when it comes to activities by car manufacturers and distributors," Mr Ekberg said yesterday at the start of the Porsche World Roadshow Singapore (PWRS) at the exhibition centre.

The sports car maker uses the PWRS to demonstrate its model range to potential customers and allow existing owners to compare their own cars with the rest of the line-up.

During a half-day programme that runs until Feb 22, a team of instructors from Germany will take a total of 200 guests through various exercises such as a slalom, moose test, braking and cornering.

This is the second time the PWRS is being held in Singapore - the first was in March 2007 on a closed road in Tuas.

PWRS events in the region are also held at the Sepang International Circuit outside Kuala Lumpur.

"An area like this (Changi Exhibition Centre) is like a huge parking lot," said Mr Ekberg. "It's better than a race circuit because a circuit has a maximum width. There are many exercises that need more space."

But a race track is ideal for other driving exercises. "So Changi Exhibition Centre would be a perfect combination with the circuit next door," he explained.

He was referring to reports that tenders will be called soon for the race track, off Changi Coast Road. The delay is likely due to the size of the original site offered, which at 20 hectares has enough space for only a 2km track - much shorter than a regular 3.5km circuit.



Setting up a Porsche Sport Driving School would mean a big investment. Mr Ekberg declined to give details but said that starting a permanent programme like the school would require about 10 non-registered cars, a bonded area and a garage.

"Then we can use it as a hub to bring in customers from all over the region," he said.

In the meantime, Porsche and its authorised distributor Stuttgart Auto are spending about $500,000 to organise the current roadshow.

"Even though the economy is tough, you have to be active in the market and maintain contact with your customers," Mr Ekberg said. "We want to create opportunities for a physical experience with our products."

Alluding to parallel importers and the recent Customs crackdown on under-declaration, he said the roadshow is an "investment" with Stuttgart Auto.

"We work through our authorised importers. Whatever we do with our importer, we consider the long-term target - to provide assurance and peace of mind to our customers."

fatz

Singapura : 26 Februari 2009        
  
KIAN RAMAI BELI KERETA SECARA TUNAI DIDORONG HARGA, COE RENDAH

BAYAR tunai lebih baik daripada berhutang.

Berbekalkan falsafah itu, mentelah lagi harga kereta dan sijil hak memilik kenderaan (COE) kini rendah, Encik Laili Abdul Hamid berkunjung ke sebuah bilik pameran kereta.

Melihat kereta idamannya, datuk dua cucu berusia 65 tahun itu memutuskan untuk membelinya dan membayar secara tunai dengan duit simpanannya yang dikumpul sejak muda.

'Harga rendah kereta dan COE begitu menarik sekali. Ia buat saya terfikir untuk membeli sebuah kereta sebagai ganti motosikal saya.

'Lagipun badan ini dah tak berapa sihat untuk tunggang motosikal pergi kerja,' kata Encik Laili ketika ditemui semalam di ruang pameran syarikat Mohamed Taifoor Motoring.

Pemandu lori itu telah menempah sebuah kereta Suzuki Swift 1.2 liter berharga $41,000.

Ditanya adakah keputusannya itu sesuai memandangkan usianya agak lanjut, Encik Laili berkata:

'Saya dah mula kerja keras, ngotem selepas habis kerja tetap saya. Kalau buat kerja sambilan memang biasa bagi saya sejak muda lagi.

'Apa juga kerja saya akan buat, termasuk sebagai nelayan. Duit lebih saya simpanlah.

'Duit yang saya gunakan untuk beli kereta ini adalah duit lebihan simpanan selepas saya tolak duit persaraan untuk saya dan isteri.'

Pemilik Mohamed Taifoor Motoring, Haji Mohamed Taifoor Mohamed, berkata kebelakangan ini sekitar 40 peratus pelanggannya membuat bayaran tunai yang tinggi apabila membeli kereta.

'Masa ini adalah pasaran pembeli dan memang waktu sesuai untuk membeli kereta bagi mereka yang ada wang simpanan,' kata beliau.

fatz

Singapura : 26 Februari 2009         

HARGA KERETA RENDAH, RAMAI BELI GUNA WANG SIMPANAN

Oleh
Nadzri Eunos

HARGA kereta dan sijil hak milik kenderaan (COE) yang rendah baru-baru ini mendorong ramai individu yang mempunyai simpanan wang membeli kereta idaman.

Kalau sebelum ini ramai pembeli 'segan' kerana sukar mendapatkan pinjaman bank, golongan berkenaan tidak menghadapi masalah sedemikian.

Ini kerana ramai yang berani meletakkan cengkeram tunai melebihi 10 peratus yang lazim sebelum ini. Malah ada yang tidak teragak-agak untuk membeli secara tunai.

Beberapa syarikat kereta menyatakan trend tersebut telah dijangkakan menyusuli pengumuman Menteri Pengangkutan, Encik Raymond Lim, di Parlimen pada 12 Februari bahawa kuota COE bagi Tahun Kuota (QY) akan dipotong daripada 110,354 kepada 83,789 antara Mei dengan April tahun depan.

Lebih ketara lagi ialah jumlah maksimum kenderaan penumpang (kereta) yang boleh didaftarkan sepanjang QY 2009 ialah 73,830 unit atau 24.2 peratus lebih rendah daripada 97,348 pada QY 2008.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Pinnacle Motors, Cik Valerie Tan, berkata sekitar 40 peratus pelanggannya kini memilih membayar sebahagian harga kereta secara tunai berbanding setahun lalu.

'Mereka tidak ambil pinjaman 100 peratus. Justeru mereka tidak hadapi sebarang masalah mendapatkan pinjaman bagi bakinya,' jelasnya.

Haji Mohamed Taifoor Mohamed berkata para pelanggannya kini tidak ada masalah membayar antara $20,000 hingga $30,000 secara tunai.

'Inilah masa paling baik nak beli kereta, khususnya mereka yang punya wang simpanan, sebab harga COE rendah,' jelas pemilik syarikat Mohamed Taifoor Motoring itu.

Pengarah Urusan Car City, Encik Liew Yoon Kwai, menambah: 'Kalau dulu 80 peratus pelanggan saya memohon pinjaman 100 peratus atau inginkan 'cash back', sekarang 40 peratus membayar sebahagian harga kereta secara tunai.'

Bagaimanapun, syarikat-syarikat penjual kereta tersebut berbelah-bahagi sama ada trend pembeli berpusu membeli kereta akan berterusan atau ia hanya satu reaksi spontan.

Sebabnya, meskipun ada syarikat-syarikat yang menjangka harga COE akan menjulang pada Mei ini dek pemotongan kuota COE, sesetengahnya mentaksirkan permintaan bagi kenderaan baru akan terus lembap lantaran menstabilkan harga COE pada paras yang rendah.

'Saya jangkakan harga COE akan mencecah $10,000 selepas April kerana jumlah kuota akan berkurangan,' kata Encik Liew.

Pendapat itu dikongsi oleh Cik Tan.

Namun, Haji Taifoor berpendapat sebaliknya.

'Saya rasa pasaran kereta akan terus lembap tetapi stabil selepas April ini kerana lonjakan pembelian sudah pun berlaku. Bagi saya, harga COE selepas April akan stabil pada paras sekitar $5,000,' ujar beliau.

holmes