Singapore will prohibit the sale of diesel cars and taxis from 1 January 2025, citing the availability of eco-friendly alternatives, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced, enforcing a rule set by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) in 2021.
“Cessation of new diesel car and taxi registrations from 2025 is a crucial target under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, aimed at advancing sustainability and enhancing our eco-friendly landscape,” said an LTA spokesperson.
Under the new regulations, imported cars protected by the Classic Vehicle Scheme and Vintage Vehicle Scheme will be exempted from the restrictions.
Existing diesel car owners in Singapore registered by the end of this year will be allowed to renew their Certificate of Entitlement (COE), with increased road taxes serving as a deterrent to encourage transitioning away from polluting vehicles. Singapore already imposes a road tax surcharge ranging from 10% to 50% for vehicles over 10 years old, based on their age.
According to industry reports cited by CNA, the population of diesel passenger cars in Singapore is expected to sharply decline by the mid-2030s. Currently, over 17,000 diesel cars are on the road, but many dealers have ceased importing new units ahead of the impending ban. As of May, pure diesel vehicles constituted only 2.7% of all private cars in Singapore, with less than 1% of new registrations since 2021 being diesel cars and taxis, according to LTA data.
Singapore aims to transition all vehicles to cleaner energy sources by 2040, alongside plans to install 60,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by 2030. The country also aims to promote public transport, targeting 75% of peak hour trips using public transit by 2030, increasing to over 80% by 2040.