Team behind GetGo launches new subscription-based car platform ZipZap

GetGo has announced the launch of a new car subscription platform named ZipZap, designed to offer personalisation, stability and simplicity on a singular app. Developed by the same team behind GetGo, ZipZap aims to increase the mobile accessibility and sustainability of car usage while retaining individuals’ flexibility and financial accessibility, traits that modern drivers are increasingly looking for in car rental services.

Although most car drivers either own their own cars, rising Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and petrol costs have turned many off buying cars, with more consumers turning to car rental services like BlueSG, where one-off reservations and payments can be made to book a car for usage. However, ZipZap presents itself as an alternative, aimed at drivers who prefer convenience and control with some room for personalisation.

ZipZap will give subscribers access to a singular dedicated car through a monthly all-inclusive plan that covers insurance, maintenance, and road tax. This eliminates the need for drivers to pay fluctuating COE prices, down payments, or unexpected maintenance costs, reducing the financial burden on younger professionals and new families who may be hoping to buy their own car for personal use.

Part of the subscription plan includes a curated selection of cars. Subscribers can expect cars like the Suzuki Swift, Honda HRV, BMW X2, and the Hyundai Kona being made available as part of ZipZap’s starting fleet, which will boast both brand-new and used cars in order to meet the needs of a wide variety of drivers.

In addition, ZipZap prides itself on personalisation, allowing for flexible and personalised leasing. Subscribers will receive a personal financial health consultation to find the best-fit car and plan for their lifestyle, with ZipZap consultants providing dedicated one-on-one support. Customisable plans will allow subscribers to adjust their plans according to changes or life events without locking them into a harsher long-term contract.

Toh Ting Feng, CEO of ZipZap and GetGo, said of the new platform, “We saw a clear gap between short-term rentals and long-term ownership, and many drivers wanted something in between: consistent access to a personal car, without the stress of large upfront payments or being tied down for years. ZipZap was created to meet that need. [...] Every part of the experience, from choosing a car to managing your plan, is designed to be transparent, personalised, and easy to navigate.”

As part of its launch, ZipZap is also piloting Subscribe & Share, a feature that allows subscribers to rent out their cars on GetGo’s carsharing platform during periods of non-use, offsetting part of their subscription fees. Although it is currently in beta, ZipZap hopes that the feature will allow for more financial and environmental sustainability, offsetting the monthly subscription fees of drivers while also utilising subscribers’ cars to their fullest.

In stark contrast with other peer-to-peer (P2P) car rental platforms in Singapore, the Subscribe & Share beta feature means that ZipZap owns and retains full operational oversight over all cars on their platform, allowing greater management and quality control within the sharing system. Consistent safety, quality and maintenance checks can be easily performed on each car, ensuring a consistent level of service regardless of rental status.

“ZipZap reflects our belief that car ownership should be adaptable, intuitive, and aligned with how people live today,” Toh Ting Feng added. With Singapore’s increasingly scarce land space and the exorbitant costs of owning a car in this turbulent economy, perhaps it truly is time for Singaporeans to rethink the merits of owning a car when feasible alternatives like ZipZap continue to appear.