Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd Southeast Asia managing director Jeffrey Gan
PETALING JAYA: After 45 years in a predominantly internal combustion engine (ICE) market, Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd (Sime Motors) is gearing up to capture the accelerating adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids across South-East Asia, as it expands its regional footprint and strengthens aftersales and used-EV capabilities.
Sime Motors – the automotive arm of Sime Darby Bhd
– contributed 27.6% of group revenue in the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2025 (1Q26).
However, profit before tax contribution was lower at 18.4%, weighed down by continued losses in its mainland China operations.
Although acquired by Sime in 2024, UMW Holdings Bhd – which oversees Toyota, Lexus and Perodua in Malaysia alongside industrial and engineering businesses – remains a standalone unit and is not part of the Sime Motors division.
Sime Motors South-East Asia managing director Jeffrey Gan expects EV and hybrid adoption to grow significantly across its key markets – Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand – over the next five years, in line with broader market trends.
“Governments are pushing cleaner mobility, infrastructure is improving, and customers now have far more model options across different price points,” he said, noting incentives, wider charging coverage and growing confidence in EV technology will drive the next wave of adoption.
“Each country is at a different stage of the journey, but the overall trajectory is very clear.”
On market share, Gan said that in Malaysia, Sime Motors holds a combined 28% share of the premium segment, having been present for over four decades.
In Singapore the company holds about 30% market share overall, driven by strong performance from BYD and BMW.
Sime Motors serves as the sole distributor of China’s BYD electric vehicles in both Malaysia and Singapore.
Across Indonesia and Thailand, Gan said Sime Motors continues to focus on the premium segment through BMW, MINI and Porsche, supported by established dealer networks and long-term customer relationships.
He added the rapid rise of Chinese automotive brands, especially in the EV segment, has created both competition and opportunity.
“Rather than viewing it purely as a challenge, we see it as an expansion of the market to drive overall electrification and accessibility. It also reflects our portfolio strategy, balancing premium marques with high-growth new energy brands to stay relevant in a fast-changing landscape,” he said.
According to Gan, currently, BYD is the number one EV brand in Malaysia, while BMW remains the leading premium electrified brand. In Singapore, he said BYD has emerged as the top-selling brand overall, taking on ICE vehicles, with BMW continuing to dominate the premium category.
Gan said partnerships with BMW and BYD remain “at the forefront of this transition” in Sime Motors’ strategy.
The group is investing heavily in aftersales capabilities, which Gan describes as “a major pillar of competitiveness”.
This includes state-of-the-art training centres to ensure technicians are certified for ICE, hybrid, and EV technologies, as well as a centralised body and paint facility in Bukit Jelutong that repairs about 7,400 vehicles annually.
Gan added a dedicated parts warehouse manages over 140,000 line items a year and maintains 95% parts availability, supported by twice-daily deliveries in the Klang Valley and daily deliveries to outstation locations.
“We operate across the full automotive value chain, from new and used cars to aftersales, mobility solutions and EV ownership support. Our integrated ecosystem ensures a seamless and trusted experience across every touchpoint,” Gan said.
As part of its broader electrification push, Gan said Sime Motors is also stepping up efforts to build confidence in EV ownership beyond first-time buyers.
He said the group’s “EV Next” platform plays a key role in supporting the used EV market, offering certified inspections, battery health transparency, and warranty programmes to address concerns around long-term ownership.
To support growing EV adoption, Gan said Sime Motors is also committed to expanding charging infrastructure through partnerships with operators, aimed at improving accessibility and convenience for EV owners across its markets.
Gan said these initiatives, combined with continued investments in talent, digitalisation and EV-ready service facilities, position Sime Motors to support scalable EV and hybrid adoption across South-East Asia.
Reflecting on Sime Motors’ 45-year journey, Gan said the group’s evolution has been a “purposeful one, firmly rooted in Malaysia,” underpinned by a long-standing commitment to mobility and customer experience.
A key pillar of the group’s success has been its enduring relationships with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) principals. As innovation reshapes the global automotive landscape, Gan stressed that close collaboration and reliable support from OEM partners remain “essential”.
“Our continuous engagement with our OEMs ensures we remain aligned in technology, training, product expertise and service, ultimately strengthening our ability to serve the Malaysian market with confidence,” he said.
Today, Sime Motors represents a broad portfolio of global marques, including BMW, BMW Motorrad, MINI, BYD, DENZA, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo and Porsche.
Gan said customer choice is further expanded through “Auto Selection”, the group’s pre-owned vehicle business, while ownership is supported by its aftersales services under “DriveCare” and “EV Next”.
Beyond retail, Gan said Inokom Corp Sdn Bhd is a key pillar of the group’s ecosystem, supporting passenger and commercial vehicle assembly for global OEMs.
He said “Sime Darby Rent-A-Car” extends the group’s reach into mobility solutions, offering flexible short and long-term rental services to individuals, corporate clients and government agencies.
Looking ahead, Gan said Sime Motors aims to expand its leadership position in Malaysia while continuing to expand across key Asean markets.
The market fundamentals in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore remain solid, supported by three key growth drivers – accelerating electrification, a growing used-car market and resilient aftersales demand as vehicle populations rise.
“We are also seeing a clear shift towards professionally certified pre-owned vehicles, driven by demand for transparency, assurance and confidence in quality,” he said, adding that digitalisation underpins these trends as customers increasingly expect seamless, technology-enabled ownership experiences.
