S1E14: Why non-drivers are also paying the price of high COEs

The Straits Times Podcasts

A veteran transport reporter tells us what can be done to bring down COE prices and how to buy a new car.

Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.

In the first of a two-part conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Christopher Tan, senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, to get a grip of the current COE system.

He also shares his journey as a veteran reporter, having been with SPH since 1983. This was four years before Singapore had its first MRT Line, and before the Land Transport Authority was established.

He also offers tips on how to shop for a car and recounts some of his most memorable drives, having tested more than 3,000 cars and counting.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:00 Why newsmakers are often wary of Christopher Tan from The Straits Times

6:00 Recounting his “embarrassing” first car review

12:00 How electric vehicle adoption will peak around the world

16:10 What flying a helicopter is like

26:00 Reviewing a car fairly for the reader, not the car company

27:55 The impact of high COE prices on drivers and non-drivers alike

Listen to Pt 2 of Lee Nian Tjoe's conversation with Chris Tan here: https://str.sg/9y73

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([e-mail]), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai

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

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [e-mail]

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read Christopher Tan's articles: https://str.sg/ohcVq

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

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

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

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): 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

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Chapters

1. Why non-drivers are also paying the price of high COEs (00:00:00)

2. Why newsmakers wary of ST's Christopher Tan (00:03:00)

3. Recounting his 'embarassing' first car review (00:06:00)

4. How EV adoption will peak around the world (00:12:00)

5. What flying a helicopter is like (00:16:10)

6. Reviewing a car is for reader, not car company (00:26:00)

7. Impact of high COE prices on all (00:27:55)