CCS issues warning letter to HelloRide for trying to propose price discussions with Anywheel

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) has issued a warning letter to HelloBikeSG, the company behind bike-sharing service HelloRide, for attempting to propose price discussions with its competitor, Anywheel.

According to a CCS media release on Aug. 17, HelloRide attempted to do so on two occasions in 2025.

Currently, the two companies are the only licensed operators of shared bicycle services in Singapore and provide short-term bicycle rentals via their mobile apps.

Chief Executive of CCS, Alvin Koh, said, "This case is a reminder to all businesses that they must act independently when determining their conduct on the market."

"CCS will not hesitate to take enforcement action against businesses that are found to have engaged in anti-competitive conduct.”

Anywheel lodged complaints

CCS commenced an investigation into possible breaches of the Competition Act following complaints from Anywheel.

Investigations revealed that a key representative of HelloRide had, on two separate occasions in July and October 2025, contacted an Anywheel representative to propose pricing discussions between the two companies.

Anywheel did not engage further and reported the communications on both occasions to CCS.

CCS said that HelloRide’s communications did not involve the disclosure of commercially sensitive information and that no actual price discussions with Anywheel took place.

Therefore, HelloRide's conduct did not infringe section 34 of the Competition Act.

The finding reflects the specific facts of this case, including Anywheel’s refusal to engage with HelloRide and its reporting of the matter to CCS.

Price discussions would likely have had significant impact

CCS stated that it does not condone HelloRide's conduct, as any price discussions or coordination

between the two businesses would likely have had a direct and significant impact on competition and consumers in this market.

Koh commended Anywheel and said that the company's "conduct is what we expect of responsible market participants.

"We want to assure businesses in similar positions that coming forward will always be the right course of action."

HelloRide says outreach 'interpreted differently by the receiving party'

On Aug. 17, HelloRide issued a media response welcoming CCS’s conclusion that the firm did not infringe on the Competition Act.

HelloRide said: “Our original outreach was intended to discuss the broader public transportation landscape and pricing environment in Singapore, including the role of shared bicycles within it — not shared bicycle pricing between the two operators.”

“While the outreach was subsequently interpreted differently by the receiving party, that was neither our intention nor what ultimately occurred.”

HelloRide added: “We have always operated in full compliance with Singapore’s competition rules and maintained fair and independent competition.”

The company noted that it appreciates and respects “CCS's broader objective of using this matter to remind businesses to exercise caution in communications with competitors".

“We are pleased that the matter is now concluded and remain focused on competing fairly, as we always have, while continuing to invest in and improve shared bicycle services in Singapore.”

What to do if business competitor wants to discuss anti-competitive information

CCS said businesses approached to participate in anti-competitive information exchanges or receive commercially sensitive information from their competitors should:

1. Immediately decline participation,

2. Publicly distance themselves from such discussions,

3. Report the matter to CCS.

CCS offers a leniency programme if one's business is currently involved in such conduct.

Businesses can come forward with information about anti-competitive agreements and receive a full waiver or substantial reduction in financial penalties.

Individuals with useful information on cartel activity can report it through CCS's reward/whistleblowing scheme with monetary rewards of up to S$120,000 or through CCS's general online complaint form linked here.

Under the CCS Reward scheme, the informant’s identity and any information that may lead to their identification will be kept strictly confidential.