Tag: Automotive

Vans are a do-it-all, utility vehicle that have a place in our hearts, from the iconic Mystery Machine in everyone’s favourite Scooby Doo cartoons that can carry a whole team of private investigators and large-sized dog to today’s beloved package delivery man bringing presents from the internet. With its upsized capacity, there are endless possibilities and functions that these versatile vans can perform. From carrying commuters to cargo, these capable carriers buck the adage that less is more. While it is clear that vans can help a person or a company accomplish a lot, it is less clear whether a cheap van rental or buying one outright is better.

Pros and Cons of Van Rentals

Van rental prices are one of the biggest advantages of choosing a cheap van rental instead of buying. The monthly rental is a convenient all-in-one1 fee that includes road tax, insurance, service and maintenance which can add up to quite a fair amount.

Although leased vehicles can vary in age, there are also leases of brand new vehicles. An advantage of leasing is that the lessee can change to a different van after every few years, given that a typical contract lasts for 3 – 5 years. This is an especially valid consideration as electric vehicles are becoming more efficient and viable for commercial purposes. Buying a van and fully paying off the loan in 7 years to be saddled with an obsolete vehicle instead of a productive asset negates the main advantages of buying altogether.

This shorter commitment period with leasing contracts is advantageous as it brings with it the flexibility to extend the contract, amend it or upgrade of vehicle.

This brings us to some drawbacks of cheap van rentals. Contracts may include a clause for excessive use that restricts wear and tear such as disallowing unspecified drivers, putting limits on total mileage or to restrict operation of the vehicle outside of the country. There may also be restrictions in the event of an accident, since the insurance policy is included in the contract.

As with any amendment of contract terms after signing on the agreement, costs may be incurred. Likewise, breaking the leasing contract prior to expiry can be expensive so although it is a shorter term commitment than buying a commercial vehicle, it still places a financial burden on the lessee for some time.

On the other hand, a passenger van rental can make accounting sense by presenting it as an operating expense rather than having a capital expense on the books. Additionally, the company may wish to avoid listing a liability such as one incurred when taking a loan to buy a car.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Van

Ownership comes with a certain amount of freedom. When the company considers the prevailing van rental prices and chooses to own instead of rent, it is free to operate, maintain, use and even customise as it sees appropriate. Operating costs can be controlled by using cheaper workshops and cosmetic repairs can be delayed if necessary. At the end of the service life of the commercial vehicle, it can also recover some costs.

If purchasing first-hand, the newest model vehicle can be obtained and almost always, the mileage would also be lower. This is beneficial because newer vehicles perform better than older ones, needing less repairs, are more fuel efficient and are in better general condition.

Buying a commercial vehicle could also be a good option when interest rates are low or if the creditworthiness of a buyer entitles him to the best rates. The disadvantages are that these loans are considered when calculating a person’s Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) which limits an individual’s debt ratio.

The downside is that the buyer has to bear all the costs of ownership such as the down payment, maintenance and repair costs, COE bidding, road tax and eventual disposal. It is a long term commitment and some of these costs like servicing and repair can get most expensive with age.

Finally, because servicing a loan can be a long term commitment, there is a risk of default unlike when one is just leasing. A default will negatively affect credit worthiness and may affect application for other loans in the future.

Which is Better – Cheap Van Rentals Or Buying a Van?

Choosing which route to go down depends on many factors, especially the economic climate which determines the future business outlook as well as uncertainty. There is a global trend towards default on car loans and that can be taken as an indicator of difficult times and also as a signal that interest rates will increase to mitigate the effect of the defaults if it persists.

Aside from these macroeconomic factors, there are 3 main considerations to take. First is liquidity and cash flow. Buying a commercial vehicle involves large upfront costs. Taking advantage of a cheap van rental helps to reduce the financial burden and spreads out the costs over time. If this van is integral to the business operation, it helps generate cash flow to finance its monthly costs.

Next is maintenance, especially if your enterprise needs to operate a fleet of vans. The all-in-one pricing which includes servicing, accident recovery and repairs could help to streamline the business instead of having to dedicate time to do everything by oneself.

Finally, there is the consideration of total cost over the period that the commercial vehicle is used. This includes all promotions, cashback and inducements given by the leasing or dealership and also takes into consideration prevailing factors like interest rates and COE prices. When these are all taken into account, then one can properly appreciate the softer factors like choice, flexibility and convenience, and make a fully informed choice.

The joy of driving a continental car is palpable from its widely proclaimed reputation for quality, comfort and luxury that precedes it, and subsequently quickly confirmed when one steps behind the wheel of a Mercedes, BMW, Audi or Volvo. From the distinctive comfort of the driver’s cabin to the electronic functions ergonomically installed within easy reach, the driving experience is an elevated experience.

However, continental cars also have the reputation of being costly to maintain; servicing is more expensive, genuine parts take longer to arrive, prone to breakdowns. This tarnishes the gilded dream that some have of owning a prestigious continental vehicle such as a Mercedes Benz. It’s as much a well tuned driving machine as it is a status symbol. This then raises the question of how to keep this gorgeous machine purring like a kitty without breaking the bank?

A Growing Taste for Continental Vehicles

The population of continental cars has been on the increase1. Growing affluence, demographics and no small amount of advertising has pushed the popularity of continental cars. Taking the absolute numbers of Mercedes Benz as an indication, over a period of the decade leading up to 2020, it can be seen that the German brand has grown over 100% from 30,467 to 64,886 vehicles. In the same period, the ever popular Toyota fell 9% while the total car population in Singapore increased by 6.4%2. Despite the growing fondness for these European imports, the fact remains that its upkeep is not the cheapest. To the new owners of a Mercedes Benz, and probably to many existing ones, the perennial question is how to keep running costs low. That usually leads to the million dollar question; are specialist workshops or dealership-operated after sales centers the better choice for Mercedes Benz servicing?

The Options for Mercedes Servicing

New cars typically come with a servicing package for the first few years. Within that time, repair work might also have to be done at the dealership’s service center in order to keep to the terms of the warranty. After that, an owner has two choices, to continue going to the dealership or to switch to an independent car workshop.

Mercedes Benz servicing comes in two packages, simply named A and B3. Service A is done after the first 10,000km, while service B is performed after 20,000km, with each alternating every subsequent 10,000km or 1 year.

Service package A being a minor servicing consists of the following at a cost of between $400 – $500.

• Mercedes Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement
• Oil Filter Replacement^
• Brake inspection
• Tire pressure checks & adjustments (including the spare)
• Maintenance counter reset

Service package B is considered major servicing and costs roughly $700 – $800 to perform the following:

Mercedes-Benz Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement

• Oil filter replacement^
• Cabin filter replacement
• Tire pressure inspection
• Brake fluid inspection
• Brake component inspection

The equivalent at an independent workshop could cost5 approximately $300 and $600 respectively. Which option to choose looks like a foregone conclusion but how does the private workshop achieve its cost savings?

Advantages of Using an Independent Workshop for your Mercedes Servicing

Cost savings is the biggest advantage of going to an independent service center, speed is another which comes about because there would naturally be many more independent workshops than a dealership can operate. Securing a date and time to suit your schedule would be much easier. Drivers might also find that last minute bookings may even be accommodated.

Returning to the point on competitive pricing, independent workshops are usually able to offer lower prices for several reasons. Lower overheads is one reason. Operating as a standalone workshop, it does not have a big facility, multiple departments or a large payroll to account for, so overheads are typically lower. They are also able to source for non OEM parts, discounted original parts or even used genuine parts. They are at liberty to exercise more resourcefulness to meet clients’ budgets.

Dealing with an independent workshop is also a more personal process. Over the years a relationship can be built up whereas an authorised workshop is more impersonal. As such, better pricing or discounts can be extended to their loyal customers. The workshop owner would also be better acquainted with the problems and service history of the vehicles; knowing its particular quirks and how to repair it more efficiently. In contrast, drivers usually meet the service advisor at an authorised workshop and would not have a chance to meet or speak with the mechanic assigned. An additional benefit of building relationships with privately owned businesses is that there is greater flexibility to go the extra mile, such as staying open a little longer to allow drivers to collect their car at the end of a long day at work. They might also be more willing to do work that authorised service centers would not be willing to due to the time and labour needed or in a bid to upsell products.

Advantages of Dealership Service Centers

Servicing a vehicle at the dealership is strictly by the books. The rules of engagement are predictable and fixed. The mechanics follow a manual and a prescribed list of steps when attending to vehicles. Mechanics are all trained to a uniform degree of expertise and the appropriate industry standard tools and diagnostic equipment are used. Original parts are always used to guarantee optimal performance but that could take time to ship in which adds to the cost.

The process could also be more streamlined as many have adopted the use of apps or websites to receive and make bookings. Even when dropping off the car, the driver only has to deal with a service advisor and never has to meet the technician or understand any of the mechanical issues. Lastly, as a larger entity, dealership owned service centers are less likely to close down.

As with many decisions in life, few questions can be answered with a definitive answer. Both options have their pros and cons. The decision to pick one over the other comes down to the value a driver puts on time and quality assurance. Finding a trustworthy and experienced private workshop can take time in order to reap the benefits of better personalised service at a more favourable price. To make the decision just a bit more complicated, large independent workshops such as ETHOZ blur the line between the two and can offer the best of both worlds.

When your business needs a commercial vehicle, it’s a cost to your business however you obtain it. Hence, it’s very important to consider what you need and how to obtain the vehicle for your own business, to keep costs low and operations hassle-free. In that respect, one of the most popular ways to operate a commercial vehicle is to lease it.

Leasing removes the need for companies to also own and service their vehicles, and disposing of them in the end. It provides a flexible mode of vehicle fleet operation that can be adapted to different periods of time and needs.

Here are some factors you need to consider when planning to lease a commercial vehicle for your operations.

1) What Kind of Vehicle Do You Need

The very first factor is of course to identify the kind of vehicle you need for your particular operations. From cars to vans to trucks, each vehicle type offers different pros and cons, and is suited for different purposes. You need be clearly understand what purposes you need it for, and what impression you want the vehicle to make of your company.

2) How Long Do You Need It For

A key benefit of a lease over car ownership or renting is its suitability and cost-effectiveness for a mid-length usage period that is itself very flexible in length, ranging from a few months to a few years. When deciding to lease a car, it’s important to figure out how long you want to lease it for.

3) What Functions Do You Need

If you’re leasing a vehicle for commercial functions, chances are you’ll need to take into account the vehicle’s functions and its fittings. Some of these fittings include a canopy, a tailgate, an enclosed cargo space, a chiller or freezer, or an open deck, for cargo vehicles.

For example, if you’re a frozen food company, you need a vehicle that has been fitted for refrigeration.

Good car leasing companies will provide you the option of customising your commercial vehicle with the necessary fittings and functions that you require to ensure the vehicle suits your operational needs.

4) What is your Budget

Once you’ve sorted out the kind of vehicle you want and for how long you want it for, the dollars and cents are the most important consideration. As a business, you will have your own budget, and you’ll want to ensure that the vehicle you get can fit into that budget. Carefully plan your budget, and look for vehicles that suit your needs that also fit within the budget.

If you are unable to find a suitable commercial vehicle to lease at your current budget, this may be a sign that your expectations are too high for your budget. You will have to either increase the available budget to cater for this, or reduce your expectations or the amount of customisation you demand so that it will fit within your desired budget.

5) What is your Credit Rating

A commercial vehicle lease is similar to a loan, in that a vehicle is lent to you in exchange for regular payments. Hence, like loans, your credit rating, and the rating of your company, is crucial for securing the best terms for a commercial vehicle lease.

One good way to ensure you get the best deal possible is to check your credit score, and ensure that your credit score is healthy before applying for a commercial vehicle lease.

6) What are the Payment Terms

Lastly, when you have found the perfect commercial vehicle and the perfect leasing price, the last thing you need to do before signing on the dotted line is to look carefully at the payment terms, to ensure that they are agreeable to you. Consider not just the downpayment, but also the instalment schedule, as well as how fees and charges may be levied in certain situations.

Familiarise yourself with the terms, and if necessary, discuss and negotiate the payment terms to suit your business’ financial situation and cashflow.

Lease With The Best

To ensure the most favourable car leasing experience and packages, it is important to lease your commercial vehicle from a provider that is experienced in the automotive industry and has acquired a reputation for some of the most competitive lease packages in the industry.

ETHOZ has decades of experience in offering car leasing and car rental services for both private and commercial vehicles, as well as offering financing and other equipment leasing services for businesses.

Committed to help businesses get the wheels they need for their operations in an affordable and flexible manner, ETHOZ offers commercial vehicle leasing stands ready with a versatile fleet of ready vehicles to serve your needs at a good and affordable price.

Speak to us today, to start unlocking more capabilities in your business!

Car leasing is a common practice in Singapore among businesses that have short-term needs for company passenger transport, but cannot justify the cost of buying and maintaining one under the company’s own cash flow.

A smooth leasing experience will depend on your knowing what to do, and what to look out for. Here’s a detailed guide on how to go about leasing a car in 2021 to save you time and money.

Step 1: Choose a Car

The first step you need to take is to choose the ideal car model for your company’s needs–whether it be a generic Toyota or Nissan for general use, or a more luxurious BMW or Mercedes for the personal use of the CEO or the transportation of VIPs, choose a model that provides the right mix of comfort, luxury and practical functions.

You’ll also need to choose a model by balancing how long you need it for, against how much the car might cost. If you need the car for a longer period, you may want to avoid more costly makes and models that will drain your finances.

Step 2: Test Drive It

Next, you need to confirm your choice by test driving it and seeing how it handles–especially if you are personally going to drive this car. There’s no point leasing a cheaper model if it makes you uncomfortable for the duration of your lease.

Step 3: Make Sure You Have a Good Credit Score

A car lease is basically the loan of a car to you–you have to pay it back in instalments, and with interest. Hence, like a typical loan, having a good credit score is important to help you get the best deal possible, with the most favorable payment terms.

A good credit score gives your lease provider the confidence that you will be able to meet your lease instalment payments, and pay on time as well, so it is crucial that your credit score is good. Being in poor standing for credit can result in your lease application being rejected!

You should undertake steps to ensure that your score is good by paying your bills on time and punctually.

Step 4: Compare Lease Deals

Once you’re sure you’re ready to start hunting for a lease for your desired model, it’s time to start looking around. Speak to different car leasers in Singapore to find out what their rates for leasing might be, or, for the best deals with the most reputed dealer of all, you could simply speak to us at ETHOZ car leasing.

What you should be looking for in lease offers are the valuation of the car, its age, as well as the amount you would be expected to pay for the car, as well as the payment schedule–when and how much you will need to pay for each instalment.

Step 5: Negotiate Suitable Payment Terms

Once you have settled on a prospective car lease that suits the duration you need the car for, you can discuss payment terms with your chosen lease provider, to ensure a package that best suits your needs and financial situation. For example, you can discuss how much downpayment to put down upfront, and also your timetable for payments.

Step 6: Familiarise Yourself with the Terms and Conditions

As with any agreement and contract you sign, you should familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions for the car you are leasing. Every contract comes with small print that stipulate numerous terms, and once you sign on the dotted line, you are deemed to have agreed and committed yourself to fulfilling these terms, regardless of whether you read the contract and knew the terms were there or not.

These terms can include fees and charges payable for changes to the lease, penalties for late payment or damage to the vehicle, as well as other obligations and requirements that you may have to follow as a lessee. Ensure you have read these terms in detail before signing!

Step 7: Inspect Your Car Thoroughly

The last step before taking possession of your leased car is to carefully inspect the vehicle for yourself. As with all car rentals, you will be held responsible for any damage done to the vehicle once it leaves the custody of the lease provider, so while you are still there, give it a thorough check to ensure that it is working well and undamaged in all major aspects.

Test the engine, check the gauges, lights and brakes, and visually inspect all exterior and interior areas for damage, such as dents, scratches, tears or discolourations and blemishes. Ensure that you report all these to your lease provider and make sure these are recorded as having been there before you took over the keys, or you will find yourself having to pay for damage that you never caused, when you return the car.

Leasing with ETHOZ

In addition to providing you some of the most competitive packages in Singapore for car leasing, ETHOZ also offers one of the widest ranges of available car makes and models for your selection, to meet your every need and purpose.

As one of the most established car rental providers in Singapore, ETHOZ also offers short term and long term car rental services for your needs if the duration or cost of leasing is not ideal for your situation.

With decades of market-leading experience in the automotive industry, ETHOZ is the first and only port of call you’ll need if you’re looking for a good car lease! Contact us today!

M.I.C.E events is an acronym for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions. These events are business-focused and held for tradespeople in industry specific fields such as aviation, logistics, medical and construction, for example. It brings together large groups of people in related trade areas for the purpose of facilitating business interactions, establishing market presence and broadening commercial networks. With a large number of people gathered in one place, a whole slew of services, logistics, accommodation and other essentials need to be catered for, it is an important subsegment of business travel that complements many other industries. There are also additional knock on effects that benefit the travel industry as it can involve a leisure component.

To visiting participants in a foreign country, transportation can be tricky and the last thing a business traveller should be bogged down with is commuting and navigation. This makes transport arrangements amongst the key factors for a successful MICE event.

More Than a Chauffeur Rental Service

At first glance arranging transportation for an event should be relatively straightforward. One would think that any and all transportation needs would be easy to satisfy by engaging a chauffeur rental service. However, there are several other important considerations aside from just going from point A to B that have to be thought through. For one, there is the question of how many guests are travelling together or if there are VIPs that require different service levels. Depending on the number and importance of these individuals, they could ride together which makes things easier or have to travel separately which would take more coordination. If there are especially distinguished guests, private transportation might have to be provided for each individual. There might also be special preferences and other logistical requirements to think about such as bottled water or in-car internet availability.

If your guests are coming from abroad, getting to and from the airport could be something to think about. Apart from making sure the vehicle is available at the required arrival and departure times, there also has to be sufficient space for luggage. This might necessitate different models of cars on different days, such as a sedan like a Mercedes on the days of the event and a van on the first and last day when more carrying capacity is needed.

During event days all the critical considerations come into play. Schedules and being at the right place at the right time are paramount, especially if one has meetings, demonstrations or even workshops to attend, whether as a presenter, trainer or just a participant. There could be multiple venues to shuttle between or meal time arrangements to take note of.

Often, MICE events make some time for entertainment. These could take place after working hours and the chauffeur rental company would have to be consulted on whether after office hours chauffeur services can be arranged. Being able to communicate with the chauffeur in such situations might be important and so ensuring that he can speak with the client in a common language should be another aspect to think about.

With ecological issues having entered the collective consciousness in recent times, ‘sustainability’ is a perennial watch word in every industry, even the MICE one. Through careful planning and logistical coordination, carbon emissions and air pollution can be reduced significantly. The Singapore Tourism Board has even prepared a set of environmentally friendly regulations1 specifically aimed at the MICE industry to achieve this. The guidelines list out different actions of varying complexity that can be adopted, such as renting vehicles that are fuel economical or consolidating pick up amongst several guests.

There are also constantly evolving challenges that affect the MICE industry and the transportation sector that supports it such as the ongoing pandemic. There needs to be plans that accommodate mandatory quarantines for inbound passengers from any given country when it becomes required. There could also be scenarios where guests need to receive medical attention.

Better to leave it to the Chauffeur Rental Professionals

As it outlined above, negotiating the different needs for MICE chauffeur services can be a painstaking endeavour to handle alone. In such a case, it may be better to leave it to the professionals. Engaging a company that provides chauffeur services puts the minutiae in the hands of experienced professionals, thereby ensuring the comfort, punctuality and safety of the passengers.

If you own a Mercedes vehicle, you would have possibly invested a huge amount of money in driving one of the best global luxury car brands. As such, it would be self-explanatory that you want to keep it operating smoothly for a long period of time. This would require a sufficient amount of servicing done to avoid possible vehicle breakdown or faultiness. In this article, you would understand a comprehensive list of things that you would need to know about servicing Mercedes.

1. Apply Car UV Protection

One of the essential steps to service a Mercedes is to apply UV protection to protect the car’s paint from damage due to UV sun rays. The service company would apply wax that provides a sufficient amount of UV protection against the harmful UV sun rays. The protection layer is typically inside the vehicle. Moreover, there are other cleaning materials available in the market to coat the protected layer and keep the vehicle looking brand new for a longer period of time.

2. Check Car Components

Every car, including Mercedes, has a few important components that require regular servicing such as hoses and belts to keep it running and operating. Some examples are timing belts and coolant hoses. If one of the belts breaks or if the hose bursts, the car will face a major issue on hand. Therefore, it is important for car owners to perform regular servicing to see if the Mercedes belts or hoses have potential damages. As such, immediately schedule a Mercedes service as soon as possible at the nearest facility.

3. Check Tire Pressure

It is important to make sure that the tire pressure is at the recommended safe psi. Most car drivers do not know that their tires are under-inflated, which can lead to potential high risks of car accidents on the road. In order to prevent such accidents from occurring, make sure that your tire pressure is at the recommended psi level. Besides checking the right tire pressure, it is important to ensure that it is adjusted at the right alignment.

4. Check Vehicle Lights

The next important step to take is to ensure that every car light is working properly. It includes the headlights, taillights, brake lights, reverse lights, hazard lights, signalling lights and turn signals. If one of these lights is not working properly, immediately send your car for servicing. As for burned or damaged light, you can have it replaced at any car facility of Mercedes.

5. Cost of Servicing

To keep your Mercedes operating smoothly for a long period, you need to make sure that you schedule for regular servicing. But don’t forget to check the total cost of servicing, and prepare yourself financially! What people don’t consider is how costly and expensive it is to maintain the vehicles, especially for luxury car brands such as Mercedes.

Most Singaporeans own and purchase a vehicle to run errands, travel with friends and family members, or simply commute from home to work and vice versa. It can be extremely costly to service the car regularly. Car servicing and maintenance plans are rarely within the budget because nobody plans for their car to wear and tear or break down. And it is typically too late when drivers notice that their cars are in need of maintenance and service – leading to costly fixtures.

Thus, it is rather important for drivers to attend any Mercedes workshops in Singapore to learn preventative maintenance measures. This helps them to be better prepared financially and emotionally for their luxury vehicles. It is also essential for drivers to know that regular Mercedes servicing is vital in helping them to save costs efficiently; or in another word, to prevent paying high costs of car repair fees in Singapore.

If you don’t want to miss out on any good deals at local Mercedes workshops, you can check out the skilful and professional mechanics at our remarkable ETHOZ Mercedes workshop, under our ETHOZ Mercedes Premium Care Maintenance Programme.

Alternatively, if you’re driving somewhere where you don’t want to bring your precious Mercedes ride, you can rent from us! ETHOZ also offers auto rental and leasing, capital financing equipment leasing Solutions, commercial vehicle financing, and other car rental services in Singapore to drivers and business owners seeking to optimise their operations, where zero downtime, predictable operating costs and controlled cash flow outlay are paramount.

Evolving from its humble roots in car leasing to become a full-fledged Automotive Solutions provider, we pride ourselves in prestigious automobile rental services with all sorts of features and functions to satisfy your needs. Furthermore, the quality and expertise of our fleet management team ensure that dedicated efforts and service works are offered to sustain long term relationships with everyone.

The mechanics at our Mercedes workshops are more than equipped to handle your luxury car with maintenance needs such as the need to provide authentic Mercedes components and parts for replacements or repairs. With ETHOZ, you can be assured of the most cost-efficient and honest advice in order to prevent unnecessary excessive spending.

There are certain things that you need to know in advance whenever you go for a drive. Driving typically consists of having accidents on the roads. A car emergency preparation is one of those important things that some people don’t value. Learning how to manage a car emergency is essential and imperative, as you would’ve prepared a number of tools that can help you in traffic situations.

Whether your car has broken down on the side of the road or got involved in a minor car accident; you need to manage them properly. During a car emergency, you might be anxious and terrified, not knowing what to do especially if you’re alone. Thus, the article has a comprehensive list of ways and techniques to address a car emergency, particularly since it seems to happen in the least expected circumstances and moments.

1. Car Breaks Down

A car breakdown is one of the most common emergencies on the road. To manage the car break down, try to slowly park or move the disabled vehicle to the side of the road, or a visible area of the road.

This is to ensure the safety of the main driver and other drivers who are aware of the car breakdown. It is important as they will slow down their cars, especially on the expressway. If possible, turn on the emergency flashers to keep all other passengers away from the traffic. Call for the relevant hotline to get the car out of the traffic – car towing services.

2. Car Tire Blowout

Car tires tend to wear out after driving for a period of time. In fact, these car tires wear and tear over time even if they’re not being driven on the road. Although the car tires may appear to be in good condition, the rubber inside is actually weakening.

When you are aware of the blowout, halt the car immediately to prevent the car from flipping over. Do not use the brakes and take your stop the gas pedal and control. Slowly pull over the car towards the shoulder of the road.

If you have a spare tire at the back of the car, you can change it by yourself or get help from other car drivers. It is important that you are far enough off the main road so that you will not distract the moving traffic. If you don’t have the spare tire, call for help and follow the breakdown information.

3. Brake Failure

In the event of a brake failure, you should immediately pump the brakes and use any of its residual pressure. Then slowly stop the gas pedal and try changing to a lower gear. If possible, you can use your emergency brake to control the car. With an emergency brake handle, you can keep the button on the end pressed down so the wheels will not lock up. If you do not know how to use your emergency brake, try contacting a relevant hotline to get help.

In certain circumstances, you can look for something to rub the car against. A small fence, lamppost, or bushes would work for minimal impact on the driver and car. Try to choose an object or area that will give way when you hit against it to minimise damage to the car and to you. Once the car is stopped after hitting a particular spot, do not drive it again until the brakes are fixed.

Check for your car insurance plans to get claims for damaging the car and public areas. It’ll be favourable if you have health insurance to cover any car accidental incidents.

4. Overheating Engine

A car engine tends to overheat especially in hot weather conditions, or long hours of driving. Thus, you should always keep a watch out on the temperature gauge and prevent engine overheating. If possible, do not not drive at fast speeds for long periods of time, or drive in lower gear. Other techniques to prevent overheating engines include turning off the air conditioning.

In some cases, the car temperature warning light might come on, or points to the red zone. You should halt the car immediately and turn off the engine. Doing it early might prevent the car from catching fire. In unfortunate cases, if your engine catches fire, stop the car as soon as you can safely. Guide other drivers to leave the roadway quickly. Then get to a safe zone and call the emergency hotline to extinguish the fire and prevent possibilities of car explosion.

A Better Alternative

At this point, you might be worried about the consequences to bear for a car. Besides paying road tax, COE, insurance and maintenance fee, you have to worry about possible car emergency issues on the road. Therefore, we have provided a better alternative for you: rent a car with everything ready for you.

Renting a car will be most suitable if you are only driving a car for temporary reasons. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about the financial burden of owning a car. And if the car rental comes at a cheap and affordable rate, that’s even better!

As one of the top professional providers of affordable automotive services and car rental in Singapore, ETHOZ offers all kinds of car rental services in Singapore to drivers and business owners seeking to optimise their operations, where zero downtime, predictable operating costs and controlled cash flow outlay are paramount. Moreover, ETHOZ offers round the clocks roadside assistance (24/7) and replacement vehicles when needed. We also work with several insurance companies to support their insurance policy holders[LL6] in the event of a car accident.

Evolving from its humble roots in car leasing to become a full-fledged car rental and Automotive Solutions provider, we pride ourselves in prestigious car rental services with all sorts of features and functions to satisfy your needs. Furthermore, the quality and expertise of our fleet management team ensure that dedicated efforts and service works are offered to sustain long term relationships with everyone.

The global automotive industry saw its crisis when COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world. While the sales of automotive vehicles had fallen in January, February saw the biggest fall ever recorded in the global time series, with sales declining by 79.1%. Many businesses ranging from food and beverages to automotive industries are significantly affected by the unpredictable crisis, preparing to deal with unfavourable post-COVID situations. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of ways the automotive industry will be affected in post-COVID world.

Alternatives to Automotive Car Purchases

COVID-19 triggered reversal of trends such as increase in car rental services and decline in car sharing/carpooling due to social distancing. The demand for car sharing, ride-hailing or carpooling has also been impacted. While this does not really come as a surprise, more individuals have switched to the alternative of car rental services due to its wide range of customisable options. As COVID-19 has led to structural changes in shared transportation choices, professional car rental companies have come up with better solutions for all. With less usage of cars for personal use due to increase in working from home post COVID implementations, individuals have switched to car rental commutations.

Decrease in Supply Chains of Automotive Cars

The production of automotive cars was severely impacted as car factories started to close. From as early as February 2020 when COVID-19 started global widespread, most factories have suspended manufacturing due to lack of sales. The closures had a huge impact as seen in the drastic fall in the world’s auto supply chain. As the virus spread worldwide, many car factories in Asia, Europe and North America closed down, further hurting the economy.

With orders being put on hold, the slowdown in the supply chain will also postpone new car launches until the situation is relieved. In the near coming months, some factories are able to open due to existing automotive digitalization strategies.

Taxis and Private Hire Drivers

With a huge number of tourists and individuals staying at home due to the pandemic, taxi and private hire drivers are getting fewer rides. This is especially worrying for local drivers as their daily livelihoods are severely impacted by the coronavirus. However, there were some car rental operators that provided rental waivers or rebates to help their drivers pull though economically. The unexpected COVID-19 has brought cyclical impacts such as higher unemployment and lower income in the automotive industry.

The lockdown measures have further worsened the situation for taxi and private hire drivers as people are scared to grab a ride due to the virus. The effects on the labour market are particularly apparent, where the number of jobless claims has increased. This indirectly caused the drastic drop in the trend of hiring taxi and private drivers.

How to Move Forward

At this point, we believe that you have understood comprehensive ways of how the automotive industry is impacted by COVID-19. Therefore, we have provided a platform – an automotive company to answer you with professional financial solutions.

As one of the top professional providers of affordable automotive services and commercial vehicle rental in Singapore, ETHOZ offers auto leasing, capital financing equipment leasing Solutions, commercial vehicle financing, and other car rental services in Singapore to drivers and business owners seeking to optimise their operations, where zero downtime, predictable operating costs and controlled cash flow outlay are paramount.

Evolving from its humble roots in car leasing to become a full-fledged Automotive Solutions provider, we pride ourselves in prestigious automobile rental services with all sorts of features and functions to satisfy your needs. Furthermore, the quality and expertise of our fleet management team ensure that dedicated efforts and service works are offered to sustain long term relationships with everyone.

Most business owners know that a customized commercial vehicle can help to improve efficiency and profitability. Being able to enhance its features can help workers to quickly access more tools and supplies. This can also reduce the time taken for business processes such as making deliveries or simply attending to customer service operations. To find out more about other customisation features, read the article for a comprehensive guide.

 

Customization of Commercial Vehicles

When it comes to customizing a commercial vehicle, one will look out for components such as the open deck, box, tailgate, freezer, full canopy and half canopy. Simply customizing these features will help to enhance work efficiency and reduce time taken for certain services or operations.

For each customised configuration, we will discuss further about its implications.

Commercial vehicle customization can lead to innovative new functions and uses. It is common for a business to understand that there are many opportunities to work better and smarter by making vehicle alterations. Commercial vehicles can be redesigned and further enhanced according to how you want to work and how you can work your best.