The partnership between Motor-East and Lion City Rentals will bring BYD electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to private-hire drivers, offering greater flexibility, efficiency and aftersales support.
The agreement, signed on 16 October at Motor-East’s headquarters in Toa Payoh, will introduce a combination of fully electric vehicles and BYD’s DM-i plug-in hybrid models into Lion City Rentals’ fleet.
Among the vehicles included in the partnership are the BYD SEAL 6 DM-i sedan and Touring wagon.
Motor-East will provide vehicle familiarisation and aftersales support, while Lion City Rentals will oversee rental operations and fleet management.
“Accelerating cleaner mobility is urgent, and the private-hire sector, which keeps Singapore moving every day, is where we can make a real difference. By partnering with Lion City Rentals, we are giving drivers access to new plug-in hybrids alongside EVs, backed by the support they need to make the switch.”
Raymond Lim, Managing Director of Motor-East.
The partnership comes as BYD continues to strengthen its position in Singapore’s automotive market.
According to Land Transport Authority figures cited by the company, BYD led new car registrations in 2025 with 11,184 vehicles, representing approximately 21.2 per cent of the market. Its momentum continued into the first half of 2026, with 6,828 registrations accounting for roughly a quarter of new car sales.
“Since 2015, Lion City Rentals has worked alongside private-hire drivers, and we understand one simple thing: for them, a car is not just a car. It is their livelihood.”
Goh Kim Guan, General Manager of Lion City Rentals
“We are heartened to earn the trust of Singaporeans and glad to witness partnerships such as the one between Motor-East and Lion City Rentals, to help make electrified vehicles more accessible to drivers.”
James Ng, Managing Director of BYD Singapore and President of BYD Philippines
The initiative also supports Singapore’s broader transition towards cleaner-energy transport, with all new car and taxi registrations targeted to be cleaner-energy models from 2030.
By introducing both electric and plug-in hybrid options, the partnership gives private-hire drivers greater flexibility when considering the switch to electrified motoring.
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