Tribecar

Tribecar operates as a car-sharing marketplace in Singapore, providing an asset-light alternative to vehicle ownership. Founded in 2016 by Adrian Lee and Paul Tan, the company emerged from their previous venture, Drive.SG, a car rental aggregator they started in 2011. Leveraging their experience in the regional automotive industry, the founders identified an opportunity to serve the burgeoning ride-hailing market, creating a platform for private-hire vehicle (PHV) drivers. The service quickly gained traction with the general public through word-of-mouth, attracted by its affordability and convenience.

The company's business model is twofold, generating approximately 70% of its revenue from car-sharing and the remainder from licensing its proprietary fleet management software to other small and medium-sized rental companies. For its car-sharing operations, Tribecar partners with SME car rental firms rather than owning the vehicles directly, allowing it to maintain an asset-light structure. It provides a diverse fleet that includes economical cars, motorcycles, commercial vans, and luxury vehicles, accessible on an hourly or daily basis. The platform caters to both leisure drivers and commercial users, such as those working for ride-hailing and delivery services like Grab, TADA, and Ninja Van. To enhance accessibility, the company introduced a subscription model in 2021 to complement its pay-as-you-go service.

A significant milestone was the 2022 acquisition of Car Club, Singapore's oldest car-sharing operator, a move that substantially increased its fleet to over 1,400 vehicles and solidified its market position. This was followed by the acquisition of Popular Rent a Car, which brought another industry pioneer, WhizzCar, under its umbrella, further expanding its service offerings and corporate client base. In early 2025, Tribecar entered into a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (SMAS), which acquired a minority stake in the company to jointly develop car-sharing technology and services for the region. This partnership underscores Tribecar's focus on technological development, utilizing telematics to monitor vehicle data for operational efficiency.

Keywords: car-sharing Singapore, hourly car rental, private-hire vehicle rental, fleet management software, mobility as a service, peer-to-peer car sharing, vehicle leasing, commercial vehicle rental, motorcycle sharing, transportation technology, urban mobility, asset-light business model, Adrian Lee, Paul Tan, Drive.SG, Car Club acquisition, WhizzCar, Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service, ride-hailing support, last-mile delivery vehicles