SINGAPORE — Demand for most car-sharing firms here surged the moment restrictions on movement and activities were lifted on June 2 and then again in the second phase of reopening last Friday (June 19).
At least one firm interviewed by TODAY said that demand was even higher than the days before the circuit breaker of containment measures began in early April.
Unlike ride-sharing services where a private-hire car driver takes up bookings to shuttle passengers, car sharing is when private car owners lease their vehicles for others to drive, or when a company has a fleet of cars that can be used for short-term rentals.
Car-sharing companies interviewed also said that they expect a continued increase in demand as more people move about and economic activities resume. They are hopeful that commuters may prefer to travel on private vehicles because they are not so close to crowds on public transport or have to share rides with others in the confines of a car.