COE and car prices

I spoke to someone, who is familiar with the motor trade. He made the following points:

a.  The recent change resulted in a drop of 40% in COE allocation. This caused COE prices to shoot up due to the cut and also to increased demand generated by fear of further price increases. It is better to have a more stable market, rather than fluctuating prices to drive consumer behavior.
b.  Taxis are now in the same category as private cars. They should be kept in a spearate category as the owners of taxis are driven by commercial consideration.
c.  There is need to improve the feeder services, so that more people will take the train and buses at the interchanges.
d.  Taxis should be considered as public transport. They are more efficient than cars and do not require parking spaces. The taxi fares should be simplified into a flat rate structure. Taxi drivers should be allowed to own a taxi licence and build a taxi business, rather than be renters of taxis.

I agree with these points and will bring them up at the TV program tonight. I will also raise them in other occasions in my blog.

Tan Kin Lian