Take a Trip Down AAS Memory Lane
Early Years
1907
On 22 March, the first meeting of what would become the Singapore Automobile Club (SAC) was held in a room at the Singapore Exchange. The first club outing took place on 16 June. This was a photo-taking session outside the Singapore Club at the Fullerton Building. Formed with just 56 members, the SAC later held Singapore’s first motor rally.
1932
Merger of the Malayan automobile clubs created a single motoring organisation across the Malay Peninsula. The organisation was named the Automobile Association of Malaya (AAM).
1938
Appointed by the government to issue the International Driving Permit in the Federated Malay States. The Singapore and Johore Branch assigned a road scout (on motorcycle with sidecar) on Johor roads. They were required to patrol between Johor Bahru and Ayer Hitam and Johor Bahru and Kota Tinggi on alternate days.
Organised the first Singapore Trophy Speed Trial along Farrer Road. The race was won by Lim Peng Han in his L.A. Special.
1940
Published the first AAM Handbook for the members. It contained useful information like driving tips and road maps at a time when such information was scarce.
1949
Published the first AAM News Bulletin.
The Singapore and Johore Branch launched its first Emergency Breakdown Service in Singapore.
1952
Singapore separated from the AAM to form the Automobile Association of Singapore (AA). The AA joined the Alliance International de Tourisme (AIT), an international federation of motoring organisations.
AA began offering low-cost motor insurance.
1954
The Association’s News Bulletin was renamed The Highway.
1954
AA introduced Singapore’s first free 24-hour Radio Road Service. Emergency calls were channelled to breakdown patrols via a central control unit, reducing response time.
1960
Organised the first public road safety programme. Displayed safety messages at petrol stations and screened Safety First slides at cinemas.
1961
The first recorded AA Road Safety and Courtesy Driving Competition.
1964
The Market Street multi-storey carpark opens. This took place after a long campaign by AA to introduce such a carpark to ease parking problems in the city.
1967
Official opening of AA House by then Interior and Defence Minister Lim Kim San. The three-storey building constructed on the land at 336 River Valley Road had been bought years earlier by the Association.
1972
The first jackpot machine, also known as the “One-arm Bandit” was installed at AA House.
1975
AA attempted to get support from members to protest against the rise in Additional Registration Fee (ARF). AA received about 1,500 member responses but unfortunately it was not sufficient enough to create an impact.
1977
Singapore hosted 79th General Assembly of the Alliance International de Tourisme (AIT).
1978
AA House was engulfed by two fires. The AA moved to Lloyd Road while AA House was torn down for the construction of AA Centre.
1979
Organised the first AA Auto-Venture™. Members drove from Singapore to Pattaya, Thailand.
1982
The AA Vehicle Inspection Centre (AAVIC) in Eunos opened its doors to Singapore motorists.
1984
AA Centre was officially opened by the then Law Minister, E W Barker.
1989
AA commissioned a study on car growth and traffic congestion and provided land transport recommendations to the Government.
1991
AA lobbied to make COEs non-transferable to protect motorists’ interest.
AA also proposed for “weekend cars” to be driven from 7pm instead of 8pm.
1996
AA launched its official website which aimed to improve communication flow between motorists and the Association.
1998
AAVIC moved to bigger premises in Kaki Bukit to meet motorists’ growing needs.
1999
Launched the Automatic Call Distribution System to increase response efficiency of the breakdown crew.
2000
Began the Provisional Membership scheme to provide Vehicle Recovery to motor traders like Cycle & Carriage and SM Motors.
As part of its strategic plans, AAVIC at Kaki Bukit was sold.
2002
First in Singapore to enlist Global Positioning System (GPS) auto-tracking and despatching system for Vehicle Recovery Services.
2004
Partnered with overseas motoring clubs to introduce the Show Your Card & Save® (SYC&S) programme, offering members discounts on dining, travel, accommodation and entertainment at thousands of locations worldwide.
To better service members, AA opened a Branch Office and Command Centre at 2 Kung Chong Road.
2007
AA celebrated its 100th Anniversary with many firsts in AA’s history and raised more than $500,000 through 3 key fundraising events – Charity Golf, AA Members’ Dinner and Charity Gala Dinner for 12 adopted charities and non-profit organisations. Here is a quick glance at the year's key celebratory events and activities:
March - Offered a 3-year AA Membership for $100 nett
29 April - AA Centennial Charity Golf at Tanah Merah Country Club with the then Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong as Guest-of-Honour raised more than $250,000 for our beneficiaries.
6 October – AA celebrated 100 years of motoring with AA Members at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
16 November – AA raised some $250,000 at the AA Centennial Charity Gala Dinner graced by the then President of the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Mr S R Nathan at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore.
Published the coffee table book, Motoring Beyond 100, which tells the story of AA and how it has evolved over the last century to become the leading voice of Singapore motoring community.
2008
Organised the first Wheels-n-Reels, an iconic event where AA Members participated in an island-wide treasure hunt and ended the day with a drive-in movie.
2009
A new chapter in AA’s Auto-Venture™ history as we organised the longest road trip to Lijiang, China.
2012
Celebrated AA’s 105th Anniversary and held a Charity Gala Dinner raising a grand total of $700,000 for three adopted beneficiaries. The dinner was attended by Guest-of-Honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
2013
For the first time in Singapore, AA Singapore introduced the Senior Motor Plus insurance plan to meet the needs of senior drivers.
2014
AA moves out of River Valley into GB Point and held its Official Opening in April 2014. AA outlet at Pearls Centre was relocated to 51 AMK and opened on 28 June 2014.
AA Autoventure organised a first-of-its-kind 30 day driving tour across Japan – 30D29N Fly-Drive Cross Japan Tour.
2015
AA Singapore organised the inaugural Asia Pacific Road Safety and Mobility Conference. In celebration of SG50, we published The Motoring 50 coffee table book, chronicling 50 facts about the motoring history in Singapore. The year ended with Wheels, Reels and Carnival 2015, a two-day event comprising a Heritage Drive, Drive-in Movie Screening and a Carnival.
AAS Academy was launched to provide Crash Prevention Programme for drivers.
2016
AAS Insurance Agency (AA-IA) established new partnership with Tokio Marine Life Insurance Singapore Ltd. (TMLS) offers Group Term Life Insurance.
AAS Academy was accredited as the first International Road Transport Union (IRU) Accredited Training Institute (ATI) in both Singapore and Asia.
2017
On 16 January 2017, AA held its Groundbreaking Ceremony for the redevelopment of 2 Kung Chong Road.
AA celebrates its 110th Anniversary with these major key events:
AA Autoventure organised one of its longest trips - 43D42N Autoventure to Xin Jiang, Tibet and Everest Base Camp.
AA celebrates its 110th Anniversary with these major key events:
- 110th Anniversary Drive to Malacca, Ipoh and Penang
- Safe Driving and Mobility Conference
- AA 110th Anniversary Dinner
AA Autoventure organised one of its longest trips - 43D42N Autoventure to Xin Jiang, Tibet and Everest Base Camp.
2018
AA organised the Overseas Safe Driving Forum with the theme “One Life Lost is One Too Many” to raise awareness about driving safely overseas following a spate of accidents involving Singaporeans overseas.
AAS Insurance Agency launches AA Personal Mobility Plus for Users of Personal Mobility Devices and Bicycles.
AAS Academy’s flagship course – Crash Prevention Course – was approved for enhanced funding by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
2019
In line with AA Singapore’s digitalisation efforts, the new AA Membership e-card and AA Highway website was launched for members.
AAS Insurance Agency launched a new Motor Insurance for Young or New Drivers.
AAS Academy held the inaugural FIA – AA Singapore Smart Driving Challenge 2019 to promote safe and eco-friendly driving.
AA Autoventure embarks on longest ever expedition drive from London to Singapore in 92 days.