Malaysia-based conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad announced future-focused plans for its Motors division, anticipating new trends and opportunities for growth in the automotive sector, particularly in shared mobility and in the electrification of the industry.
Sime Darby is positioning itself to be the strategic partner for new mobility players offering a turnkey solution for all mobility needs, including a wide range of fleet management services and across the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. As for its fleet management solutions, it is ranging from the provision of vehicles via various ownership schemes and maintenance. Mobile car servicing, telematics which enables monitoring, predictive maintenance for fleets, to name a few.
With EVs transforming the automotive landscape, Sime Darby aims to capitalize on its many strengths along the value chain to become the leading EV specialist in the region. The assembly, distribution, and retail of EVs, as well as by playing an active role in the charging infrastructure value chain.
Sime Darby recently made an investment of approximately US$10 million (RM42 million) in car-sharing company Socar and online used car platform Carro, a startup that has just become a unicorn in June 2021. More particularly, the group first invested in Socar's expansion plans and sequentially followed by its participation in Carro's series C extension fundraising.
Sime Darby Berhad is a conglomerate with 4 core businesses in key growth sectors, including industrial, motors, healthcare, and logistics. In addition to their core operations, the group is also involved in the insurance segment in Malaysia. Sime Darby Industrial, a leader in the heavy equipment business, represents Caterpillar and a range of allied brands, offering a comprehensive range of heavy equipment products and services across the Asia Pacific. Sime Darby Motors is the automotive arm of Sime Darby, with operations across 9 markets in the Asia Pacific region. Sime Darby Motors is actively invested across the entire value chain of the automotive business, ranging from the assembly, importation, distribution, and retail to aftersales services and rental.
