Latest news with #MinistryofTransport
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
COE prices rise in Singapore, except for motorcycle premiums
SINGAPORE — Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums rose across all categories except for motorcycles in the latest round of bidding on Wednesday (18 June). Category A premiums, meant for smaller and less powerful cars and EVs (up to 1,600cc and 130 bhp and electric vehicles up to 110kW), the premium was $98,124, an increase of 1.2 per cent from $96,999 previously. The price of a Category B COE – meant for more powerful cars and electric vehicles (EVs) – rose by 3.2 per cent to $116,670, from $113,000 recorded at the previous tender on 4 June. Open Category (Category E) COEs, which can be used for all vehicle types except for motorcycles, rose to $116,889. That's some 2.6 per cent higher than the $113,900 at the previous bidding. Commercial vehicle COEs (Category C), which includes buses and goods vehicles, climbed 4.8 per cent to $65,000. The only category that saw a decrease was Category D, used for motorcycles — premiums fell 4.4 per cent to $8,600. The COE gives the owner the right to register and use a vehicle in Singapore for 10 years. It can be obtained through an online open auction conducted twice a month. Bidding exercises usually start at 12pm on the first and third Monday of the month, and last for three working days. Each bidding will end at 4pm on Wednesday, if there is no public holiday in between. The vehicle quota in each category will be announced before the start of each bidding exercise. After 10 years, when the COE expires, an owner can choose to de-register the vehicle or renew the COE. Since 1 February 2023, the number of COEs available for bidding in the corresponding vehicle category in each quarter is the rolling average of the number of vehicles deregistered over the previous four quarters. COE prices, of course, can drop – it is dependent on supply and demand. Since 2017, the Ministry of Transport has been freezing vehicle population growth for all categories except Category C for goods vehicles and buses. The current rates will be maintained until 31 January 2028. Singapore is one of the costliest places in the world to buy a car – in fact, in 2022, the Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2022, released by Swiss private bank Julius Baer, found Singapore cars were the most expensive globally.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar rapidly advancing transition to e-mobility among MENA countries: PwC report
DOHA: Qatar is rapidly advancing its transition to electric mobility, aligning with its Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 3rd National Development Strategy (NDS3), which emphasizes on sustainability, economic diversification and a technology-driven growth and the plans tailored and carried out in this front have played a pivotal role in steering the country towards a sustainable mobility future, including the Electric Vehicle Strategy 2021 that has set ambitious targets, including EVs comprising 10% of total vehicle sales by 2030 and the rapid deployment of EV infrastructure to support a zero-emission transportation future. This comes in a new report released lately by PwC. The report says that EVs are gaining traction in Qatar and the sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Qatar are projected to climb from 1.1% in 2024 to around 14.4% in 2035 and sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) from 0.7% in 2024 to 9.6% in 2035. The report highlights the Ministry of Transport's key role in spearheading the transition to sustainable mobility with various strategies to support that goal towards a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally conscious future. The report indicates that thanks to those strategies 73% of public buses in Qatar are already electric, reflecting tangible transformation to green mobility. Additionally, the MoT has had a key role in the establishment of an e-bus assembly plant in the Um Al Houl Free Zone in collaboration between Mowasalat (Karwa) and Yutong, the report says. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, the report says, served as a landmark event in demonstrating Qatar's e-mobility capabilities, with over 1000 e-buses providing transportation for fans and visitors, making it the first-ever FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East with such a significant focus on electric transportation. By shifting to e-mobility and cleaner power generation, Qatar can curb the rise in CO2 emissions by nearly 5% compared to an entirely internal combustion engine fleet, reinforcing the country's commitment to sustainable, low-carbon transportation. Qatar's commitment to sustainability, paired with attractive green financing options, further strengthens the case for growth in this space and with a projected annual economic growth rate of 4.1% between 2025 and 2029 and a population set to reach 3.2 million by 2030, Qatar is primed for sustainable market expansion. The report highlights serious efforts to install more than 1000 charging stations by 2030 supported by plans for 4000 stations by 2035. The report says Qatar has set ambitious renewable energy targets with solar capacity expected to grow to 5 gigawatts by 2035 and this means Qatar has the potential to fully meet EV charging demand through clean energy. The report says Qatar is investing heavily in developing its e-mobility ecosystem and, in this regard, prototypes of Vim, the first EV to include Qatari intellectual property, were revealed by Ecotranzit in 2023. Additionally, ABB E-mobility, a global leader in EV charging solutions, has partnered with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) to open a state-of-the-art service and training center in the Um Al Houl Free Zone, focusing on both theoretical and hands-on training for EV charging infrastructure, the report says. Qatar is a key investment partner internationally with significant investments by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in major EV battery manufacturing companies such as SK On, positioning Qatar among the key players in the EV battery manufacturing landscape worldwide. Besides Yutong, adds the report, Qatarâ€s attractive market has already drawn interest from EV manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Porsche and Gaussin. The report lays the groundwork for a future where Qatar is well-positioned internationally in terms of e-mobility with continued efforts to develop localized EV battery ecosystem, qualify national professionals and enhance international cooperation in R&D, paving the way for Qatar to become an exporter of technologies and components of sustainable transportation to Europe and Asia.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Police Urge Caution On The Roads This Holiday Weekend
Police are reminding road users that there will be zero tolerance for unsafe driving this Matariki Weekend. 'There was an unacceptable number of road deaths over King's Birthday weekend, and we don't want a repeat of that this weekend. If you are driving in a way that puts your own, or someone else's, safety at risk, expect there to be consequences,' says Director Road Policing, Superintendent Steve Greally. 'We have zero tolerance for selfish drivers gambling with other people's lives.' Emergency services see first-hand the devastation that dangerous road behaviours cause, and the harm doesn't end at the scene. 'One of the hardest parts of our job is knocking on a door in the middle of the night to tell a family that their loved one isn't coming home,' Superintendent Greally says. 'Matariki is a time for families to come together and be with each other – please don't do anything which would prevent that from happening.' Police will be out on the country's roads in increased numbers this weekend, with the clear intention to stop and prevent unsafe driving behaviour, day and night. Our officers and road safety partners are undertaking a large amount of work to ensure the safety of everyone on our roads. Many of us make long journeys over long weekends. We know that tired drivers make mistakes, so take regular breaks and split the driving with someone if you can. Having your seatbelt on, driving to the conditions and not being distracted while driving can be the difference in walking away from a crash or being seriously injured or worse. Information on holiday road toll periods can be found here: Safety — Road deaths | Ministry of Transport [1].
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar leads e-mobility transition in MENA region: PwC report
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar is rapidly advancing its transition to electric mobility, in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), which emphasises sustainability, economic diversification, and technology-driven growth. The tailored plans implemented in this area have played a pivotal role in steering the country towards a sustainable mobility future. Among these is the Electric Vehicle Strategy 2021, which sets ambitious targets—including electric vehicles (EVs) comprising 10 percent of total vehicle sales by 2030—and supports the rapid deployment of EV infrastructure to facilitate a zero-emission transport future. These insights come from a recent report released by PwC, which notes that EVs are gaining traction in Qatar. The report projects that sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will rise from 1.1 percent in 2024 to approximately 14.4 percent by 2035, while sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are expected to grow from 0.7 percent in 2024 to 9.6 percent by 2035. The report highlights the Ministry of Transport's key role in driving the transition to sustainable mobility through a range of strategic initiatives aimed at building a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally conscious transport system. Thanks to these strategies, 73 percent of Qatar's public buses are already electric—an indication of the country's tangible shift towards green mobility. Additionally, the Ministry has played a significant role in establishing an e-bus assembly plant in the Um Al Houl Free Zone, a joint initiative between Mowasalat (Karwa) and Yutong. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar marked a milestone in showcasing the nation's e-mobility capabilities. More than 1,000 electric buses were deployed to transport fans and visitors, making it the first-ever FIFA World Cup held in the Middle East with such a strong emphasis on electric transport. By shifting to e-mobility and cleaner energy generation, Qatar can potentially reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 5 percent compared to a fully internal combustion engine fleet—reinforcing its commitment to sustainable, low-carbon transportation. Qatar's dedication to sustainability, coupled with attractive green financing options, further strengthens its position in this sector. With a projected annual economic growth rate of 4.1 percent between 2025 and 2029 and a population expected to reach 3.2 million by 2030, the country is well-placed for sustainable market expansion. The report also points to significant efforts to install over 1,000 EV charging stations by 2030, with plans to expand this number to 4,000 by 2035. Qatar has set ambitious renewable energy targets, aiming for solar capacity to reach 5 gigawatts by 2035—enabling the country to potentially meet EV charging demand entirely through clean energy. To support the development of its e-mobility ecosystem, Qatar has made strategic investments. In 2023, Ecotranzit unveiled prototypes of Vim, the first EV to incorporate Qatari intellectual property. Meanwhile, ABB E-mobility, a global leader in EV charging solutions, partnered with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) to establish a state-of-the-art service and training centre in the Um Al Houl Free Zone, providing both theoretical and practical training on EV charging infrastructure. Qatar is also emerging as a key international investment partner, with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) investing in major EV battery manufacturers such as SK On—positioning the country as an important player in the global EV battery sector.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran-Israel war hits wallets: stranded Iraqis pay the price to get home
Shafaq News/ The ongoing war between Israel and Iran has thrown regional air travel into disarray, stranding thousands of passengers and forcing Iraqis to return home by land—only to face chaos, inflated transport fees, and a lack of government oversight. Since the escalation began on Friday, Iraq suspended its airspace as a security precaution, leading to widespread flight cancellations and diversions. While southern airspace was later reopened for limited daytime flights through Basra International Airport, many Iraqi travelers—especially pilgrims—remained trapped in Iran, Turkiye, and Lebanon. With air routes disrupted, land crossings became the only option home, but the journey proved anything but smooth. Returnees arriving at Iraq's borders encountered soaring transport costs and unregulated conditions. Um Tabarak, a mother of three from Baghdad, said she was shocked after returning from Turkiye when a driver demanded $150 to take her home. 'There was no system, no oversight—just exploitation and a complete disregard for our humanity,' she told Shafaq News. Um Hassan from Karbala noted that she paid $300 for a taxi from Qom to the Mehran border crossing—triple the usual fare. 'I had gone for medical treatment, spent everything I had, and barely made it back,' she shared with our agency. 'I had no choice.' Abu Mustafa from Najaf recounted being stuck in Mashhad in Iran after falling victim to a flight scam. 'I lost all my money and couldn't leave until some strangers helped me return.' The crisis reached Lebanon as well. In Beirut, dozens of stranded Iraqis staged a protest outside the Iraqi embassy, denouncing what they called a failure to organize their return. Eyewitnesses reported to our agency that Lebanese police intervened to defuse tensions, though no injuries were reported. Calls for government intervention have grown louder. Struggling Iraqis are urging the Ministry of Transport and the Border Crossings Authority to step in, organize affordable transport, enforce price regulations, and deploy inspection teams to prevent further abuse. The Ministry of Transport, however, denied any irregularities. It confirmed that land transportation was operating 'smoothly' and that necessary services were being provided in coordination with the Authority. Ahmad al-Moussawi, Director of the General Company for Private Transport, told Shafaq News that he and senior officials are stationed at the Zurbatiyah crossing under direct instructions from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. 'We're monitoring transport operations, overseeing the return of foreign pilgrims, and penalizing violations of pricing rules,' he said. Still, al-Moussawi acknowledged that the ministry holds no authority inside Iranian territory or at the Ibrahim al-Khalil crossing, which falls under the Kurdistan Regional Government.
