BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  How Automotive Synergy Navigated Through ‘Kodak Level’ Disruption

How Automotive Synergy Navigated Through ‘Kodak Level’ Disruption

Ian Sia, Founder, Automotive Synergy

12-Jun-24 10:00

How Automotive Synergy Navigated Through ‘Kodak Level’ Disruption

“My mum said to me, stop playing with cars or turn it into a business. So I turned it into a business.”

Established in 2004, Automotive Synergy started life as Malaysia’s distributor of satellite navigation systems with Garmin, as satnav became more popular, Automotive Synergy’s business expanded, developing key connections with car manufacturers such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, and BMW, as well as oil and gas companies like Mobil and Shell. However with the rise of the smartphone and apps such as Google Maps and Waze, satnav as a standalone product lost prominence and faced ‘Blackberry Level’ disruption.

Thankfully the business had shifted its focus to providing car care chemicals, before distributing other automotive care products and establishing export markets in various countries for its own in-house products.

With all that in mind, we explore the origins of Automotive Synergy, how the company pivoted as the satellite navigation business changed, and the ambitions ahead for this company.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketstechnologymanagingentrepreneurs

Tags:  automotive care solutionsautomotive industryentrepreneurshipbusiness





Play / Pause

Listen now : Back To Back: Ep134 - The Clash

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dr Rahul Mishra, Associate Professor at the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawa-harlal Nehru University, New Delhi

7:45 AM

Top Story

Y.B. Tuan Rajiv a/l Rishyakaran, Selangor State Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Her Excellency Jodi Robinson, High Commissioner of Canada to Malaysia

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Professor Dato’ Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid, President, Malaysian Health Economic Association

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, President of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Ian Wong, licensed financial planner and Founder & CEO of Uno Advisers

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Nini Tan, Co-Founder & Executive Director, dobiQueen

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

Khalil Nooh, Co-Founder & CEO, Mesolitica

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Sofia Leong Abdullah, Franchise Consultant and Founder, Business Evolution Enterprise

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy; Dr Chern Phei Ming, Rehabilitation Physician, Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital | Sarini Bujang, Mother of 13-year-old Hana, with cerebral palsy

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

How Do We Bridge the Polarisation in Malaysia?; Dr Tee Chen Giap and Chew Zhun Yee, Co-founders, Malaysian Philosophy Society

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Public Health: Healthcare In A Politically Polarised World; Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy | Prof Dr David McCoy, Research Lead, UNU International Institute for Global Health | Dr Kelvin Yii, MP for Bandar Kuching

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday

Is It Hard to Admit Your Wrongs?

7:30 PM

Pursuing Your Education Abroad; Devina Sivagurunathan, Executive Director, MABECS

8:00 PM

I Love KL

9:00 PM

Back To Back

Ep134 - The Clash