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 : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) We explore the move from “prime time” to “scroll time” with Amin Ashaari, Co-Founder of SoyaCincau.

12:00 PM

Just For Kicks

(REPEAT) After the North London Derby, Arsenal will now have to face Liam Rosenior's Chelsea. Will they pass this test? Our pundits share their thoughts and look ahead to the weekend's games.

1:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

(REPEAT) Kam, Michael Gong and Sudais Ferhard get together to talk about Nostradamus, revenge of the nerds and Seedance videos that are wildly popular now.

2:00 PM

Ringgit & Sense

(REPEAT) Yuvarajan Periyan, licensed financial planner and co-founder of Uno Advisers talks about 'Pig Butchering' scams.

2:30 PM

The Property Show

(REPEAT) Datuk Ho Hon Sang, REDHA President discusses Malaysia’s resilient property market and 2026 outlook.

3:00 PM

Best of The Bigger Picture

(REPEAT) We often hear about neighbourhoods being evicted, houses being torn down and communities organising against the state government or private developers. In this episode, we discuss the politics of eviction in Malaysia.

4:00 PM

Best of Evening Edition

(REPEAT) A Skeptic’s Take on the Epstein Files

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

The Life Scientific speaks to neuropsychologist Professor Julia Simner, who runs the Multisense lab at the University of Sussex and has pioneered research into understanding how special brains process our sensory world in special ways.