SINGAPORE, Oct 8 — Singapore will tighten controls on non-compliant active mobility devices sold or advertised online, while introducing new measures covering battery safety, autonomous vehicles and illegal transport services.
The measures were approved by Parliament on Wednesday through the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill, with CNA reporting that the legislation forms part of wider efforts to strengthen transport regulation and enforcement.
The new rules will take effect in the second quarter of 2027 and allow the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to order the removal or amendment of online listings and advertisements for devices that do not meet regulatory requirements.
They will cover listings originating in Singapore, as well as those posted by Singapore-connected individuals and accessible in the country, although overseas sellers with no local presence will remain outside the legislation.
Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng said the government would continue engaging online platforms to remove offending listings, while MPs questioned whether stronger measures were needed against foreign sellers and marketplace operators.
The legislation also prohibits incompatible batteries from being used with power-assisted bicycles, motorised personal mobility devices and mobility vehicles, following 49 fires involving active mobility devices in 2025.
MPs called for clearer ways for consumers to identify approved batteries, including compatibility labels and searchable lists, while some also urged greater traceability of batteries from manufacturers or importers to sellers.
Baey said LTA already provides an online list of compatible batteries for approved power-assisted bicycle models and plans to extend similar information to approved e-scooters and mobility scooters before the new requirements begin.
He said a battery deemed safe on its own could still pose a risk when paired with an incompatible device, adding that compatibility could not simply be determined by a seller's declaration.
The Bill also creates a regulatory sandbox for autonomous vehicles on public paths, with MPs seeking stronger safeguards and greater transparency over incidents, complaints and corrective measures arising from trials.
Baey said autonomous vehicle operators would have to show that their vehicles could safely interact with other path users, while LTA could impose measures such as speed restrictions and on-site safety personnel.
He said several hundred autonomous vehicles were expected to be operating by the end of 2028, compared with about 72,000 taxi and private-hire car drivers currently, and that most point-to-point journeys would continue to rely on human drivers for the foreseeable future.
The legislation further strengthens action against illegal point-to-point transport services and requires deregistered vehicles to be exported through LTA-authorised exporters, with the authority to conduct risk-based audits and revoke licences for breaches.
Separately, Singapore will remove the requirement for electric vehicle chargers installed at landed homes to undergo inspections every two years, with LTA instead issuing guidance on maintenance and safety while continuing risk-based checks on compliance with charging requirements.
