Horizon https://horizon.h2.com.sg Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:57:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://horizon.h2.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/favicon.png Horizon https://horizon.h2.com.sg 32 32 Driving Forward: SCAO Group Automotive BU thrives with Adaptability and DE&I https://horizon.h2.com.sg/driving-forward-scao-group-automotive-bu-thrives-with-adaptability-and-dei/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:27:53 +0000 https://demowebsg05.com/horizon/?p=680

What are the key focus areas of SCAO Group’s Automotive Business Unit in 2025 and beyond?

SCAO Group Automotive BU was previously divided into two BUs: Automotive BU 1, which was responsible for the eastern region, such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia etc, and Automotive BU 2, which was responsible for the western region, such as India, Pakistan and Thailand etc. In October 2024, the two BUs were merged into one Automotive BU in SCAO.

On the other hand, there are five Automotive Strategic Business Units (SBUs) at SCHQ –Manufacturing/Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Mobility Services, Tires, and Beyond Mobility. Despite having only one Automotive BU in SCAO currently, we have been able to communicate and operate with the five SBUs seamlessly.

Under this situation, we held a regional meeting in Bangkok in June 2025 and discussed our goal of achieving our target PAT by 2030 through three main areas. The first is to monetise the growing Indian market. The second is to support the organic growth of the fleet management business centered on Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (SMAS), discover inorganic projects, and monetise the commercial vehicle business. The third is to monetise engineering services through a joint venture with Tech Mahindra. Members of the SCAO Automobile BU are executing these strategies and hope to achieve tangible results.

Visit SAIC Motor - CP with SMAS, SMAT & SCTL Management

The automotive industry is currently facing a confluence of significant challenges, including geopolitical tension, supply chain disruptions, the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), evolving consumer demands, and the need for digital transformation. How are these factors reshaping the way you do business? How is your BU navigating the challenges and leveraging growth opportunities?

We have decided on the aforementioned focus areas to strengthen our position. Given geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, whether we are in a country close to the United States or China will have a significant impact on our strategies. BEVs are also closely related with China’s supply chain strategy. As for consumer demand, the automobile market in Thailand and Indonesia, which have led the ASEAN automotive market, has declined significantly over a 10-year span, and the reason for this is the decline in the middle class that can purchase automotives. The problem is that even though GDP has grown, wealth has not been circulating to the middle class and salaries have not increased. In Thailand, household debt has become a problem, with total household debt almost equivalent to GDP. The government has not found a way to solve these problems, thus it may be difficult to continue a sustainable business in this environment.

On the other hand, the middle class is growing in India, Vietnam, and the Philippines, while the automotive market is also growing significantly. As for Australia, it has accepted 1 million high-skilled immigrants in three years. Thanks to this, the automotive market has been growing gradually. These trends illustrate why we are prioritising our India strategy and fleet management strategy.

In addition, OEM strategies are also expanding on R&D, given that powertrains are diversifying to FCEV, BEV, PHEV, HEV, CNG, and ICE, and connectivity is accelerating. It is difficult for OEMs to allocate development resources for these, and the need for offshore R&D is increasing. The business that will meet their demands is the JV business with Tech Mahindra.

Visit ICBC (Thailand) with SMAT & SCTL Management
Visit ICBC (Thailand) with SMAT & SCTL Management

SC has always emphasised cross-BU and cross organizational collaboration to create synergy and new businesses. Can you share any success stories of such collaboration from your BU?

You may ask whether we will exit from the automotive business in Thailand in light of the above explanations. Indeed, Thailand is accelerating the shift to BEVs led by China, along with the collapse of the supply chain and the entry of Chinese companies. Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Leasing & Service Thailand Co., Ltd (SMAT), SMAS’s subsidiary company in Thailand, also faces the challenge of a lack of increase in the number of leased vehicles due to a decrease in investment from Japanese companies and a decrease in Japanese expatriates.

Therefore, in September 2023, we have been strengthening SMAT’s Chinese business by leveraging on the expertise of Mr. Bin Li, who was transferred from Sumitomo Corporation China to Sumitomo Corporation Thailand. Specifically, we have been collaborating with SAIC-CP Motor (a joint venture between Shanghai Motor and CP Group, a major Thai conglomerate), which has been manufacturing and selling MG brand automotives in Thailand for 10 years, to lease MG brand BEV vehicles to Japanese and Chinese companies that prefer BEV vehicles. We also collaborate with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), which introduces excellent Chinese companies to SMAT. This approach of responding to the changing times through collaboration without investing large amounts of capital is an approach that will enable sustainable business growth no matter what direction Thailand’s political and economic situation takes, and the fact that it is being driven by Sumitomo Corporation China staff is a major contributing factor for success.

SCAO Group Automotive BU is promoting DE&I, so we hope to contribute to the entire SC Group in terms of human resources as well.

Leadership

Takahiro Taguchi

General Manager, Asia & Oceania Automotive Business Unit
  • Joined Sumitomo since:
    August 2019
  • Like:
    Golf, History of the late Edo period, Taiga Historical Drama
  • Dislike:
    Cheese, Dairy Products, Ambiguity, Irresponsibility, Bureaucracy
  • What I love about my work:
    “The sense of satisfaction derived from creating a grand vision and plan, bringing them to reality, solving difficult problems, motivating others, and achieving results.”

Members

Our business is powered by a dynamic team of regional talents whose diverse background brings fresh perspectives and drive meaningful results.

Contributed by:

Takahiro Taguchi
General Manager, Asia & Oceania Automotive Business Unit

Bin Li
Senior Manager
Automotive Dept
Automotive and Transportation & Construction Systems Division, SCTL

]]> Meet the Leaders of SCAO Group https://horizon.h2.com.sg/meet-the-leaders-of-scao-group/ https://horizon.h2.com.sg/meet-the-leaders-of-scao-group/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:53:46 +0000 https://demowebsg05.com/horizon/?p=1 https://horizon.h2.com.sg/meet-the-leaders-of-scao-group/feed/ 1 SCAO Dhaka: Reigniting energy through team building https://horizon.h2.com.sg/scao-dhaka-reigniting-energy-through-team-building/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:09:30 +0000 https://demowebsg05.com/horizon/?p=524

On 12 October 2025, a sunny and breezy day in late autumn, our office members got together for an engaging session of interactive games and activities. The team building session offered everyone a refreshing escape from our daily stress, filling two hours in the morning with joy and laughter.

 

Participants immersed themselves in fun challenges like puzzle matching and flying colourful airplanes made by teammates, sparking nostalgic childhood memories. Each team was identified by colour and named after our famous rivers, creating a sense of pride and connection. Larger group games such as “Dart Targeting” and “Ball to Cup” added to the excitement and brought back cherished moments.

 

Aligning with our DE&I commitment, we strengthened bonds and fostered collaboration through the active and wholehearted engagement of our members. We wound up the morning with a delightful refreshment break and the distribution of souvenirs, leaving everyone inspired and energised for the journey ahead.

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SCAO Dhaka: Reigniting energy through team building
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Contributed by:

Farhana Yasmin
Corporate & General Affairs
SCAO Dhaka

]]> SCAO Project Hope Learning beyond classroom https://horizon.h2.com.sg/scao-project-hope-learning-beyond-classroom/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:09:14 +0000 https://demowebsg05.com/horizon/?p=522

Educational Trip to Singapore Wildlife Rainforest Asia with APSN Katong Students

On 18 November 2025, students from APSN Katong embarked on an enriching educational journey to Singapore Wildlife Rainforest Asia. This trip extended learning beyond the classroom, sparking curiosity and environmental awareness among the students.

Immersed in lush greenery and guided by teachers and volunteers, the students explored diverse rainforest habitats—including the Karsts, Forest Floor, Canopy, Rock Cascade, Watering Hole, and Cavern—each supporting unique animal and plant life.

Through interactive activities, they learned about the importance of biodiversity, the layers of the rainforest, and how animals adapt to survive in their environments. Observing rare species and understanding their habitats deepened students’ appreciation for conservation and the vital role rainforests play in sustaining life on Earth.

Our volunteers contributed to a safe and inclusive learning environment while sharing their passion for nature, hence inspiring young learners. In return, they gained insights into inclusive education and the joy of teaching. Everyone walked away with a renewed sense of purpose: a commitment to environmental stewardship and a shared determination to make positive, sustainable changes for a greener planet.

Singapore 16th Feb 2025: the entrance Rainforest Wild Asia, the 5th zoo in SIngapore, Asia’s first wildlife adventure park.
SCAO Project Hope Photo-3
the watering hole of Rainforest Wild Asia, the 5th zoo in SIngapore, Asia’s first wildlife adventure park.
SCAO Project Hope Photo-4
SCAO-Project-Hope-Photo
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