BMW Group hosts first-ever Supplier Day in Singapore

The BMW Group held the first-ever Supplier Day in Singapore on Wednesday, 23 August 2017 at Breakthrough Theatre @ Matrix, Biopolis in collaboration with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), SPRING Singapore and A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) in an effort to broaden its automotive sourcing base in Southeast Asia and make better use of the competencies of the local automotive supplier base and value chain. 84 participants from 51 organisations, including suppliers, research institutes, and government agencies were in attendance.

As Singapore offers potential in the areas of automotive electronics, electric components software development and precision machining, the BMW Group invited interested suppliers and relevant stakeholders to inform them about the Company’s business strategy and the purchasing process to become a BMW supplier.

“Electronic components and software already play an essential role in the automotive industry, but their importance will grow as it prepares to address the future of mobility through electrification,” said Mr. Carsten Mueller-Deiters Purchasing Director Thailand, Malaysia and Purchasing Office ASEAN, BMW Group. “As we move towards an electrified future, we require sustainable processes in component production and a new approach in its sourcing strategy. We believe suppliers in Singapore have the potential to support us these efforts.”

“We welcome BMW Group’s plan to increase sourcing from Singapore and the region. We are confident that Singapore’s robust ecosystem of suppliers will be able to support the future of mobility. We encourage BMW and their Singapore suppliers to leverage our programmes such as the Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) scheme to strengthen their partnerships,” said Mr. Tan Hui Khim, Director, Supplier Development of EDB.

Electrification is one of the central pillars of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, and the company recently announced that all brands and model series can be electrified, with a full-electric or plug-in hybrid drivetrain being offered in addition to the combustion engine option which includes a fully electric MINI that will enter production in 2019.

Speakers at the event included:

• Mr. Tan Hui Khim, Director, Supplier Development, Singapore Economic Development Board
• Mr. Carsten Mueller-Deiters Purchasing Director Thailand, Malaysia and Purchasing Office ASEAN, BMW Group
• Mr. Jan Ehlen, Government and External Relations Asia, BMW Group
• Mr. Wisit Yawapongsiri, Founder and President, Alexon Co. Ltd. Thailand