GetGo (carsharing company)
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_GetGo_Carsharing_BYD_e6_SNJ9239B_2024-07-29.jpg) A BYD e6 with GetGo branding | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Car rental |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | 55 Ayer Rajah Crescent, #07-12/26, Singapore 139949 |
Area served | Singapore |
Key people | Toh Ting Feng (Co-Founder, CEO), Johnson Lim (Co-Founder, CMO) |
| Services | Carsharing |
| Website | getgo |
GetGo is a car sharing service based in Singapore. Launched in 2021, it is currently the largest carsharing company in Singapore in terms of fleet and location size.[1][better source needed] As of February 2024, it has over 3,000 vehicles across 1,700 locations in Singapore.[2]
GetGo has been criticised for its alleged predatory practices of high excess fees and overcharging users in the event of an accident or maintenance issues with the vehicle, including minor ones, as well as when the user was not responsible. This has led to growing calls to regulate the car sharing industry in general and increase consumer protections.
History
[edit]GetGo was incorporated in August 2020[3][better source needed] and officially launched in February 2021. GetGo began with an initial fleet of 400 vehicles from Lion City Rentals, a car-rental company formerly owned by Uber.[4] It attracted 14,000 users in its pre-launched registration, and over 20,000 users within its first two months of operation.[5][better source needed]
On February 23, 2023, it announced a fundraising round of S$20 million (US$14.9 million) from Treis, a family-backed investment group, for the purpose of growing its fleet of electric vehicles.[6]
As of November 2023, GetGo has a user count of over 300,000 users within Singapore. It also received acceptance into Enterprise Singapore's "Scale-Up" program to plan an overseas expansion.[7][better source needed]
In February 2024, GetGo announced a partnership with SBS Transit, Singapore's largest public bus company, to place their vehicles near MRT and bus interchanges for last-mile connectivity.[8][non-primary source needed]
Services
[edit]GetGo offers a "point A to A" car-sharing platform that prioritizes a greater ease of use. It is available to licensed Singapore residents over the age of 19 with at least a year of driving experience, or to licensed residents over the age of 25 without driving experience. The service is integrated with Singapore's SingPass MyInfo system for registration and verification.[9][better source needed]
The GetGo platform is currently mobile exclusive. Bookings, unlocking/locking of vehicles, and support are done through GetGo's Android and iOS apps. Vehicle locations are not centralized, but rather primarily located throughout Singapore's residential communities, such as in public housing carparks. With a point A to A model, vehicles must be returned to where they were originally picked up in.[10][better source needed]
Unlike traditional car rental or carsharing pricing models, GetGo does not charge any security deposits or membership fees. Their pricing is based on booking duration, vehicle selection, and timing of booking. Costs for refueling/recharging are covered in each booking.[11][better source needed]
Fleet
[edit]GetGo offers a combination of petrol, diesel, and electric vehicles within its fleet. It is currently the largest carsharing fleet in Singapore, with approximately 3000 vehicles across 1600 locations. The company has a goal of 10,000 electrical vehicles within its fleet by 2030.[12][better source needed]
Controversies
[edit]GetGo has been criticised for alleged predatory practices of high excess fees and overcharging users in the event of an accident or maintenance issues with the vehicle, including minor ones, as well as when the user was not responsible.[13] In February 2023, a fender bender between a GetGo KG Mobility (then Ssangyong) vehicle and a Mercedes vehicle resulted in a GetGo user being charged S$4,636, even despite the Mercedes driver agreeing to settle the matter privately with the user for a cost of $288, and that a workshop had previously quoted him only S$150 for the repair.[14][15]
In March 2023, a GetGo user said they were charged S$7,320 after getting into a minor accident in January that year, in a car that they stated was malfunctioning to begin with, including its vehicle's brakes and anti-lock braking system (ABS). A driver of more than 30 years, they also stated that there were already damages to the vehicle while parked even before they have begun using it.[16] In response, GetGo disputed the user and claimed that the vehicle was not faulty.[16] The driver also stated that GetGo's notices of overdue payments include "taking all necessary actions to collect any unpaid balance, including engaging services of debt collectors."[16]
In August 2023, a GetGo user revealed that they were charged S$5,589 after a minor accident with a motorcycle in June that previous year, which included third-party damage costing S$3,000. However, after the GetGo user contacted the motorcyclist for their repair bill, they responded that their repairs had only costed S$130 and that GetGo had not even contacted them after months.[17] In October 2023, a GetGo user was charged S$914.42 for a single flat tyre.[18] In January 2024, a GetGo user revealed that they were charged S$1,158 for minor scratches on a BYD e6.[19]
Along with GetGo, there has been growing calls to regulate the car sharing industry in general and increase consumer protections.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ Salim, Zafirah (8 February 2023). "GetGo co-founder on how they became S'pore's largest car-sharing provider in just two years". Vulcanpost. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Tan, Christopher (26 February 2024). "400 shared cars near all North East, Downtown line MRT stops in SBS Transit-GetGo tie-up". The Straits Times. The Strait Times. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "GETGO TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD". SGP Business. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Newly launched GetGo enters Singapore car-sharing market". The Straits Times. Straitstimes. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "S'pore Car-Sharing Firm GetGo Charges No Deposit, Membership Fees". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Ahmad, Samreen (23 February 2023). "SG's GetGo Carsharing raises $14.9m to expand electric fleet". Tech In Asia. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Sivakumar, Yoganeetha (6 November 2023). "GetGo unveils 14,000 sqft office at one-north – aims to double headcount, expand overseas". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "SBS Transit And GetGo Enter Into Strategic Partnership To Advance Sustainable Mobility In Singapore". SBS Transit. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Lim, Mary. "GetGo's co-founder Toh Ting Feng makes driving more sustainable". The Peak Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Gomez, Joseph (12 December 2023). "GetGo Car Sharing Review (2023): Prices, Promos, and New EV Line-up". Money Smart. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Koh, Joel (22 April 2023). "Car Sharing in Singapore 2023 Guide: Which Car Sharing is Best in Singapore?". Seedly. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Sivakumar, Yoganeetha. "GetGo receives S$20M investment to grow electric fleet, aims to have 10,000 greener vehicles by 2030". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Yip, Christy. "'The sight and sound give me PTSD': Hassles outweigh savings for some car-sharing users". CNA. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
When accidents happen, however, car-sharing quickly becomes a costly affair owing to an accident insurance clause that dictates excess fees.
- ^ Zi Chan, Kow (3 March 2023). "GetGo user pays other driver S$288 after 'small accident', receives S$4,636 bill from platform". mothership.sg. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Cai, Candice (26 February 2023). "'Shocked me till my jaw dropped': GetGo car user slapped with $4,600 bill after 'small accident'". AsiaOne. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Seow, Daniel (17 March 2023). "GetGo user disputes S$7,320 damage cost after getting into accident, claiming car was malfunctioning". Mothership. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Su Man, Ong (6 August 2023). "GetGo car user shocked to be charged $3,000 for S$130 repair after accident with motorcycle". Stomp. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Su Mann, Ong (12 October 2023). "GetGo car user 'heartbroken' to be charged $914.42 for a flat tyre: 'I lost confidence in driving'". Stomp. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Su Mann, Ong (4 January 2024). "'It was a very expensive lesson': GetGo car user shocked at being charged over $1,000 for 'minor scratch repair'". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Yeap, Amanda (19 January 2024). "The Big Read: Growing calls to regulate car-sharing, amid rising complaints of hefty repair costs and poor service". TODAY. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
