1,700 vehicles under Autobahn Rent A Car will be repossessed after High Court appeal dropped

About 1,700 vehicles under debt-ridden Autobahn Rent A Car will be repossessed and returned to the respective creditors after it was announced that the entity's vehicle rental business will be suspended and a High Court appeal against creditors' action will be dropped.

The announcement was made by Fervent Chambers law firm on behalf of Autobahn Rent A Car and its associated companies, one of which is Shariot, a car-sharing company.

Shariot paused its rental services on Dec. 31, 2025, which has affected private-hire drivers.

The High Court application was to seek the protection of the court from the enforcement of claims and repossession of cars.

Court documents on Dec. 23 also showed that Autobahn owes Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions of about S$85,000 for November 2025.

Other operators extending a hand to drivers

In response, a Jan. 7 joint statement by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), the Land Transport Authority (LTA), as well as three operators — ComfortDelGro, Grab and Strides Premier — said they are working to provide vehicles to affected drivers, having engaged some of them.

Assistant Secretary General of NTUC Yeo Wan Ling, who is also adviser to the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and the National Taxi Association (NTA), said: "NPHVA and NTA will continue to work with LTA and platform operators to protect and support our drivers."

Background

As of Dec. 23, 2025, Autobahn owed more than S$300 million to creditors that include DBS, UOB, OCBC, Maybank and other finance companies.

To protect against creditor actions, Autobahn and a group of related companies previously made a High Court application for a six-month moratorium.

That application has been withdrawn.

As a result, insurers have terminated car insurance policies, which prevents the vehicles from being driven on Singapore roads.

Having car insurance is a legal requirement for cars to be driven in Singapore.

LTA said in the joint statement that it has received information that the car insurance for some Autobahn cars has not been renewed or has been cancelled.

LTA said: "LTA has given them notice that as the owner, they must ensure proper insurance cover and if there is a lapse in insurance, Autobahn must ensure that the hirer is informed and that the vehicle is not used on the roads."

In a related development, accounting and business advisory firm Baker Tilly was appointed by one of the banks on Dec. 29 to seek 58 cars supplied to Autobahn.

Baker Tilly has requested help from Autobahn and Fervent Chambers to locate the vehicles to work out with drivers how they can continue to use the car, CNA reported.

Affected private-hire drivers can contact:

Grab via https://forms.gle/rHYBzLmSdqsGJhhy8

ComfortDelGro at [email protected]/ 6550 8704

Strides Premier at [email protected]/ 9852 9367

Top photo via Google Maps