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 : Best of Enterprise: (REPEAT) In this episode of Open For Business, we...

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) In this episode of Open For Business, we explore the evolution of Goodday KidSTART 3.0, Malaysia’s largest "kidpreneur" platform, which recently culminated in a national TV series finale.

12:00 PM

Just For Kicks

(REPEAT) We review the final matches of the Champions League and the Europa League, and look ahead to Matchweek 24 of the EPL!

1:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

(REPEAT) Kam, Matt and Sudais get together to talk about AI, fan fiction and unusual travel destinations.

2:00 PM

Ringgit & Sense

(REPEAT) Linnet Lee, licensed financial planner at Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd talks about personal finance aspects of Valentine's Day and being in a relationship in general.

2:30 PM

The Property Show

(REPEAT) Jimmy Chiam of CCN Consulting and Kyle E of POW Ideas discuss what drives success and failure in retail.

3:00 PM

Best of The Bigger Picture

(REPEAT) Olympian and former national artistic gymnast Farah Ann talks about the ups and downs of her career, and how she coped with the immense pressure on her mental health.

4:00 PM

Best of Evening Edition

(REPEAT) We speak to Nirmala Supramaniam, Head of Household Financial Education Department at Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) on how we can be better at money.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

Professor Sir Peter Knight is a British pioneer in the realms of quantum optics and quantum information science, and he tells Jim Al-Khalili about the excitement and opportunities for a young scientist at the birth of a new scientific discipline.