Celebrating 45 Years: Sime Motors Powers Ahead as Malaysia’s Automotive Market Leader
Sime Motors proudly celebrates its 45th anniversary, marking nearly five decades of growth, innovation and leadership in Malaysia’s automotive industry. Since its establishment in 1980, Sime Motors has evolved into Malaysia’s largest automotive retailer with the largest market share, shaping the nation’s mobility landscape with a world-class portfolio of brands and services.
Today, Sime Motors represents renowned global automotive brands in Malaysia, including BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad, BYD, DENZA, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Porsche as well as Auto Selection for used cars, Drivecare and EV Next for EV used cars. The breadth of brands represented by Sime Motors positions it as a one-stop mobility powerhouse, innovative performance and everyday mobility.
Over the past 45 years, Sime Motors has been at the forefront of Malaysia’s automotive transformation – from introducing cutting-edge technologies to delivering premium ownership experiences and driving the nation’s transition into the future of electric mobility. With an unwavering commitment to customer-first excellence, Sime Motors has consistently redefined automotive retail and aftersales services in Malaysia.
“Sime Motors’ 45-year journey has been instrumental to the Group’s long-standing commitment to innovation, sustainability and creating value for our customers,” said Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime. “The Motors business is an important growth driver for Sime, and we are proud to see how Sime Motors has become a trusted name in Malaysia and a key force in the region’s mobility landscape. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to unlocking new opportunities, particularly in electric mobility and to the wider Asia Pacific market.”
“This milestone is not just a celebration of our legacy but a reaffirmation of our vision for the future,” said Andrew Basham, Managing Director of Sime Motors. “For 45 years, we have had the privilege of driving alongside Malaysians through every milestone, every journey and every generation. At Sime Motors, we will keep driving innovation, creating solutions and building customer trust at the core of everything we do.”
45 Years of Milestones
Setting the groundwork since 1980 in Malaysia, Sime Motors has achieved many defining milestones that have shaped Malaysia’s automotive landscape.
Today, Sime Motors proudly stands as Malaysia’s number one automotive retailer, trusted by generations of customers nationwide.
As Sime Motors reflects on 45 years of leadership and innovation, the company also sets its sights on the future by accelerating its push into electric mobility, pioneering in digital retail experiences and sustainable automotive solutions across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
At the heart of its progress in the automotive business are the people of Sime Motors. The company has been dedicated to nurturing the development of its employees by investing in training, enabling them to grow alongside the business. This commitment ensures Sime Motors’ workforce is equipped to deliver outstanding customer experiences and stay ahead in a dynamic automotive landscape.
Anniversary Celebrations
To mark its 45th anniversary, Sime Motors has lined up exciting nationwide initiatives, including:
Visit www.simemotors.com.my for more information.
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Chosen from among 10 finalists, Beijing AIForce Technology impressed judges with its autonomous, low-carbon electric tractors
PepsiCo, a global leader in beverages and convenient foods, is proud to announce Beijing AIForce Technology as the winner of the 2025 Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) program in Asia Pacific (APAC). Beijing AIForce was recognized for its autonomous, low-carbon e-tractors, which represent an emerging solution for advancing sustainable farming.
Now in its third year, GHAC is PepsiCo’s flagship initiative dedicated to nurturing an ecosystem of innovation and collaboration in Asia Pacific. The program supports breakthrough startups driving impact in sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and climate resilience. It offers each finalist a $20,000 USD non-dilutive grant, mentorship from PepsiCo executives, access to an extensive network of PepsiCo partners, and an opportunity for a potential pilot, which enables participants to refine their innovations, tackle real-world challenges, and validate their solutions within PepsiCo’s ecosystem.
Beijing AIForce Technology clinches top prize
The agri-tech startup’s initial tests have shown encouraging results, such as the potential to ease pressures on farmers by combining automation, affordability, and sustainability in one solution. The innovation also shows strong alignment with PepsiCo Positive (pep+), the company’s global sustainability strategy.
Beijing AIForce Technology’s autonomous, low-carbon electric tractors could help address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture, including rising costs, ageing rural workforces, and the urgent need for agricultural resilience. The company integrates robotics, data, and automation with the aim of facilitating smarter farms capable of operating day and night.
Beijing AIForce Technology has designed autonomous, low-carbon electric tractors that integrate robotics, data, and automation to enable farms to operate more efficiently, including continuous day-and-night operations.
As the 2025 winner, Beijing AIForce Technology will receive prize money of $100,000 USD.
Dr. Han Wei, Founder & CEO, Beijing AIForce Technology said, “We are incredibly honored to be named the winner of this year’s PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator in Asia Pacific. Participating in this program has been a game-changer for us. The mentorship, connections, and insights we’ve gained have sharpened our strategy and opened doors to new opportunities. We’re grateful to PepsiCo for believing in our potential, and look forward to what’s ahead.”
“After three editions, the APAC Greenhouse Accelerator has shown that the real test of sustainability innovation is not the idea itself, but whether it works where it matters—in the field, on the line, and in the market,” said Anne Tse, Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo Asia Pacific. “The strength of this program is how it connects founders with the scale of our value chain and the discipline to measure both environmental and economic outcomes. Each year, we’re building a stronger pipeline of solutions across circular economy, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience that can support the long-term transformation of our industry. This year’s winner reflects that journey—moving from vision to viability—and adds to the momentum of a program that is now firmly embedded in APAC’s innovation ecosystem.”
Empowering startups to scale: GHAC 2025 highlights
This year’s cohort featured 10 startups from Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea, each receiving tailored guidance from PepsiCo’s global experts, previous program winners, and investment experts in the sustainability domain. This mentorship ensures each finalist receives support to advance their sustainability-focused solutions through knowledge sharing and collaboration on pain points such as growth challenges, refining business strategies, and scalability.
Key program components included:
Startups involved in this year’s GHAC also reported clear outcomes, including finalist Endua discovering three new market opportunities through program connections. Several finalists also launched pilot deployments with PepsiCo or partners across APAC markets, generating measurable sustainability impact through tests in the PepsiCo value chain.
These pilots enabled testing and iteration of breakthrough ideas, including Beijing PHAbuilder Biotechnology Co. Ltd.’s Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) film development; Bali Waste Cycle’s low-value plastic (LVP) regeneration center; Beijing AIForce Technology’s autonomous electric tractors, and Service Enviro SCAD Inc.’s solution that transforms organic waste into a clean, nutrient-rich resource. These real-world pilots provide valuable data, feedback, and commercial traction, helping startups refine strategies and accelerate growth.
The five-month journey culminated in a final event in Shanghai, where all 10 startups showcased their progress. A diverse panel of cross-sector experts evaluated the finalists based on their innovation, feasibility, scalability, and progress through the program:
Following careful deliberation, Beijing AIForce Technology was chosen for its outstanding potential and practical approach that could help address farm costs, labor shortages, and carbon emissions. Early benchmarking on PepsiCo farms has shown encouraging results, including reduced operating costs and significant emissions savings, suggesting a pathway for wider adoption in sustainable farming.
A proven platform for growth: GHAC alumni in action
GHAC’s commitment doesn’t end when each year’s program comes to a close. It is a long-term ecosystem built on lasting partnerships, consistently delivering first-of-its-kind pilots that achieve significant traction:
These success stories show how GHAC is dedicated to catalyzing innovation beyond the program, helping startups gain confidence, strengthen business models, grow operations, and expand their customer base.
Globally, GHAC has supported over 100 emerging startups who have delivered over $15 million USD in revenue growth since 2017. Over the last three years, the APAC edition of the program has awarded more than $1 million USD in grant and pilot funding to finalists and greenlit over 20 pilots.
“The Greenhouse Accelerator Program is driving how we advance pep+ in APAC. By giving early-stage innovators direct access to our business, we test and scale solutions that promote packaging circularity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate-resilient agriculture,” said Ashley Brown, Chief Sustainability Officer – APAC and India, PepsiCo. “Each edition expands this pipeline, with alumni and winners delivering pilots that align with the sustainability priorities of our industry and region. Many congratulations to Beijing AIForce Technology on their achievement in developing and testing low-carbon autonomous e-tractors for sustainable farming. Their work demonstrates the kind of solution making an impact today. I am excited to see them build on their experience in GHAC and continue to scale in the years ahead.”
PepsiCo congratulates Beijing AIForce Technology and all 2025 finalists for their dedication to driving sustainable change.
Applications for the 2026 Greenhouse Accelerator Program will open soon. The company invites all aspiring startups to stay tuned for more details.
For more information about PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator, visit the website https://greenhouseaccelerator.com/, LinkedIn, or X.
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Samsung Malaysia Kicks Off Solve for Tomorrow 2025 to Inspire the Next Generation of Innovators
Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya challenge youth to reimagine the future through STEM-powered solutions
Samsung Malaysia Electronics (“Samsung Malaysia”) is thrilled to kick off the seventh edition of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2025. This nationwide competition continues to empower young minds to harness the power of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to address real-world challenges in their communities. With the theme ‘Start with Can’, Malaysian students aged 13 to 15 are invited to turn bold ideas into STEM-driven solutions for local issues, from sustainability to wellbeing. Winners stand a chance to take home Samsung products worth up to RM117,000, along with the opportunity to showcase their ideas on a national stage.
In collaboration with Universiti Malaya, SFT 2025 is part of Samsung’s global youth education and innovation campaign. It encourages Malaysian students to apply STEM knowledge and creative problem-solving skills to address the pressing issues in their communities. This year’s competition invites participants to explore one of the four key themes, including environmental sustainability through technology, social change via sport and tech, health and wellbeing or education and learning. The campaign comes at a crucial time, as the country faces a growing talent outflow, with over 1.8 million Malaysians seeking better opportunities abroad. By nurturing homegrown innovation and digital literacy, Samsung SFT 2025 supports the national agenda outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). The plan positions technology and artificial intelligence as key drivers of future growth.
Elaine Soh, Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, shared, “Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow has always been about encouraging young Malaysians to think creatively and apply what they have learned in the classroom in meaningful ways. We are proud to support students as they explore practical solutions to real challenges regardless of within their communities or beyond. Through this year’s installment of Solve for Tomorrow, we hope to nurture essential skills and inspire a mindset of innovation that will benefit Malaysia’s future. ”
“We believe Malaysian youth are vital pillars of our nation’s future. Their creativity knows no bounds, and we are confident that these young minds have the potential to change the world,” said Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Mas Sahidayana Mohktar, Director of Universiti Malaya STEM Centre. “As educators, we always encourage them to think beyond the ordinary, embrace challenges, and stay resilient. Collaborating with Samsung for the sixth consecutive year, this initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing early-stage STEM education, a crucial step in building the talent pool that will drive Malaysia’s economic growth.”
Samsung SFT 2025 invites secondary school students across Malaysia to submit an 800-word proposal showcasing innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Students must base their ideas on one of the four key themes: environmental sustainability through technology, social change via sport and tech, health and wellbeing, or education and learning. Submissions will be evaluated by Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya based on key criteria including issue relevance, creativity, feasibility, STEM application and overall presentation.
The top 10 teams will advance to the next stage, where they will further develop and present their ideas. Shortlisted entries will be notified via email and feature on the program’s official website in October 2025. The 10 teams will then be introduced to their mentors in the Design to Win Workshop, where they will receive guidance and support throughout the competition to help refine their concepts and build working prototypes.
The winners will be determined through a competitive pitching process in December 2025. Prizes include:
Registration is now open and participants have until 21 September 2025 to submit their entries.
Stay updated by following Samsung Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. You can also revisit last year’s winning presentations at SFT – Winners | Samsung Malaysia.
For more information about SFT 2025, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/solvefortomorrow/2025/
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Chamrun Digital’s Agentic AI to Break Silos, Boost Malaysia’s Public Service Efficiency
The existence of silos across various ministries and departments remains one of the persistent challenges in Malaysia’s public administration, resulting in inefficiencies and delays in decision-making, said Dr Behrang Parhizkar, Chief Executive Officer of Chamrun Digital and Chamrun AI.
“One of the biggest bottlenecks in our public service is the fragmentation among ministries, departments and data systems. Acting as a “smart connector”, Agentic AI can unify these fragmented data and workflows into a single, actionable platform enabling leaders to make more informed, timely and effective decisions,” he stated during his address at the Malaysia Digital Expo (MDX) Summit 2025 launching today.
While traditional AI operates reactively and is limited to individual tasks, Agentic AI is designed to be proactive, autonomous, and action-driven. It anticipates needs, plans ahead, and coordinates multiple processes across agencies, delivering faster and more integrated solutions for the public.
The potential benefits of Agentic AI are significant. In agriculture and food security, it helps farmers anticipate needs and improves demand and supply forecasting, potentially reducing the country’s RM70 billion annual food import bill. In public service, automating tasks such as form checks and license assessments can cut delays, allowing civil servants to focus more on policymaking and citizen services.
For fraud prevention, Agentic AI powered voice systems can operate 24/7, verifying reports instantly and alerting authorities in real time – a crucial feature given over RM573 million in online fraud losses recorded early in 2025.
Beyond technology deployment, Chamrun Digital, in collaboration with the Public Service Department (JPA), is conducting a six-month AI & Digital Leadership Programme to train senior officers within the public sector. The programme equips leaders with the skill to embed AI expertise for sustainable government transformation.
“Malaysia cannot afford to view AI as a passing trend. With Agentic AI, we are moving beyond pilot projects to real solutions that benefit citizens by improving public sector efficiency, responsiveness, and sustainability,” he emphasized.
This initiative positions Chamrun Digital and Chamrun AI as strategic industry partners to JPA and MyDIGITAL, fully aligned with the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL) and the National AI Policy.
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