BlueSG Needs Time to Develop Software and Refresh Fleet, Say Former Insiders

Decision to pause operations would allow the firm to focus on the upgrade: Founder

- Lee Nian Tjoe

The need for robust software to power the service and for better vehicles has been cited by former BlueSG insiders as two possible reasons behind the electric car-sharing service winding down operations on Aug 8 and relaunching in 2026.

BlueSG said it was doing so to upgrade its platform – which will include enhanced technology – and refresh its fleet to make the service more reliable and efficient.

The software manages the vehicle fleet, works with the user database and handles payments.

BlueSG switched to its current software in late 2023 from another one that was used since before the car-sharing service was sold in 2021 to Goldbell, a Singapore-owned company known for commercial and industrial vehicle leasing.

This was because the rights to use the previous software expired, Mr Ng Lee Kwang, a BlueSG board director between 2021 and 2023, told The Straits Times.

The new software drew user complaints over issues relating to car bookings and payments, among other things.

Mr Franck Vitte, who founded BlueSG in 2017 and served as its managing director until October 2021, when it was sold, told ST on Aug 5 that the software needed by the car-sharing service is complex to develop and difficult to run reliably.

He said that while it is possible to continue the service and make the switch to a new software platform when it is ready, the company’s decision to take a pause in this way would allow it to focus on developing the planned changes and not be distracted by having to correct bugs.