For Mr Ng Khee Siong, Managing Director of BMS, the occasion is a powerful statement of legacy, resilience, and renewed purpose.

We had the opportunity to speak to Mr Ng, who shared insights on how BMS has shaped the nation’s automotive landscape, the unique role of each brand in its portfolio, and the group’s roadmap for the future, guided by sustainability, digital transformation, and community care.

100 Years of Trust, Innovation, and Progress

“Reaching 100 years illustrates the trust and loyalty we’ve built with generations of customers,” Mr Ng notes that the milestone reflects not only BMS’s deep-rooted presence in Singapore, but also Inchcape Singapore’s continued role as a mobility leader since acquiring Borneo Motors in 1967.

With more than 200,000 Toyota vehicles on the road (representing one in four cars in Singapore), the figures speak volumes. But to Mr Ng, the true value lies in relationships: with global OEM partners, local communities, and over 600 dedicated team members who have propelled the company forward.

As part of its centennial celebrations, BMS launched a series of community-driven initiatives, including a partnership with The Art Faculty to empower artists on the autism spectrum and a collaboration with Grab to provide 100 complimentary National Day rides for underprivileged communities.

“It reminds us that our greatest asset has always been the people,” he said. “This reaffirms our responsibility to lead the way forward, ensuring a safer, smarter, and more sustainable journey for all Singaporeans”.

A Brand Portfolio with Purpose

Representing Toyota, Lexus, and Hino, BMS’s brand portfolio caters to every facet of Singaporean mobility. Each marque plays a strategic role in the company’s growth and reputation.

“Toyota has always been our backbone,” said Mr Ng. The Japanese brand’s legacy of reliability, hybrid innovation, and value-driven offerings has earned it deep trust across generations. From dominating taxi fleets in the 1980s to pioneering green mobility with the Prius in 2001, Toyota has consistently driven mass adoption of sustainable vehicles.

“In 2024, Toyota remained #1 in total automotive market share in Singapore. That’s a powerful statement of our market relevance,” he added.

Lexus, meanwhile, has elevated BMS’s position in the luxury segment. “Lexus is about progressive luxury and refined craftsmanship,” Mr Ng noted. From the launch of the RX400h to the all-electric RZ and the exclusive LBX Urbanite limited edition, Lexus continues to set benchmarks in performance, design, and customer experience.

On the commercial front, Hino plays a vital role in business and logistics mobility. “Since 2006, Hino has consistently delivered efficiency and dependability. It was recognised as Singapore’s No.1 Commercial Vehicle Brand in 2024,” Mr Ng shared. “Together, these three brands allow us to serve customers across all walks of life, building not just a product line-up, but a mobility ecosystem.”

Paving the Roads Ahead: Sustainability and Innovation

Looking forward, Borneo Motors Singapore is steering its second century with a clear-eyed focus on sustainable mobility, electrification, and digital transformation.

“Our commitment to Singapore is built on a foundation of trust and a vision for the future,” Mr Ng said. That vision includes a multi-pathway approach to electrification, offering hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). “We’re not betting on one technology. We’re providing the right solution, at the right time, for every customer.”

Toyota hybrids already operate in zero-emission mode for up to 62% of travel time, a compelling contribution to Singapore’s Green Plan 2030.

But beyond hardware, Mr Ng stressed the importance of customer wellness. “We are committed to worry-free ownership, advanced safety, and long-term value. It’s about peace of mind.”

The company is also investing in talent and innovation, with initiatives like a hands-on hybrid showcase for Singapore Polytechnic students. “We want to inspire the next generation to reimagine mobility,” he said.

Celebrating Legacy, Empowering the Future

Anchored in the theme “The Roads Ahead”, BMS’s centennial celebration includes immersive showroom experiences, legacy showcases (such as the last Toyota Crown taxi), and community tributes like the limited-edition Lexus Maze Gashi cake, crafted in collaboration with Pâtisserie CLÉ to reflect Singapore’s multicultural identity.

Mr Ng’s message is clear: “Our journey extends beyond mobility. We will continue to seek out meaningful ways to move people’s lives forward, creating a more accessible and supportive future for all.”

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The theme is simple enough, “100 Years Strong”, yet the sweep is anything but: heritage, innovation and sustainability braided into one long, steady pull of progress.

“To stand at the start of our second century is an important moment of reflection and pride for Borneo Motors Singapore. For 100 years, we have not just sold vehicles, we have also empowered journeys, connected lives, and driven the nation forward, by and for generations of Singaporeans. As we look ahead, our vision is to continue redefining mobility, championing innovation, and fostering a sustainable future for all.”

Mr Ng Khee Siong, Managing Director of Borneo Motors Singapore

From first gear to top speed

Rewind to 1925, and you’ll find BMS planting the seeds of an industry that would grow with the nation. By 1967, the company had secured the Toyota franchise; within two years, more than 3,000 Toyota commercial and passenger vehicles had been sold.

By 1971, Toyota was among the top three best-sellers, and by 1981, it was number one, momentum that would translate into an era-defining taxi fleet: Toyota Crown Taxis arrived in 1982, market share surged past 40%, and by 2006, roughly eight in ten taxis on our roads wore the Toyota crest.

In the early days, BMS introduced taximeters to bring fairness to fares and order to a chaotic taxi scene. By the end of 1953, meters were mandatory.

The milestones kept piling up: 14 Triple Crown Awards from Toyota, showroom refreshes, new brands, and a customer base that today numbers over 200,000 Toyota vehicles, which translates roughly into one in four cars on Singapore’s roads.

Lexus, Hino and the art of breadth

Lexus joined the fold in 1992, ushering in a different flavour of excellence. And because a modern automotive group is more than cars alone, Hino became an exclusive BMS nameplate in 2006, anchoring the commercial-vehicle bedrock.

The BMS100 Museum

From 20 August to 29 December 2025, the Toyota and Lexus showrooms transform into the BMS100 Museum, an immersive timeline from 1925 to 2025. You’ll see the last Toyota Crown Taxi (retired 2014), the 1930s taximeters that tamed pirate cabs, and even a Kabuto samurai helmet gifted by Toyota in 1988 to mark BMS’s first Triple Crown Award.

In partnership with Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, BMS will display a Toyota Corolla Cross cut in half, its Self-Charging Full Hybrid system laid bare. An interactive demo shows energy flow during acceleration, cruising and braking.

Special editions

Anniversaries deserve statements. The Lexus LBX Urbanite is a limited-run edition that will only have 100 units for Singapore. The car features dechromed bodywork, Gloss Black Japanese rims, and crisp Citrine yellow accents.

There’s craft beyond cars, too. The Lexus x Bynd Artisan BMS100 Car Key Folio is a pocket-sized salute to Takumi artistry.

There will also be a BMS100 Special Edition Lexus Maze Gashi by Pâtisserie CLÉ riffs on rojak, available 20 August–31 December 2025 for owners and guests who complete a test drive.

On the Toyota side, there’s a preview of the All-New Noah Hybrid and a refreshed Corolla Cross Hybrid. To crown it all, the BMS100 Special Edition Corolla Cross gets gunmetal rims, Nappa leather seats, and a BMS100 badge.

And because confidence at the point of purchase is priceless, an anniversary “lifetime assurance” campaign on selected Lexus and Toyota models lines up a quartet of 100s: 100-month engine & transmission protection, 100-month hybrid battery warranty, 100-month servicing and a 100-month road-tax rebate (Terms and conditions apply).

The road ahead

So, a hundred years on, what’s next?

If the past is prologue, Borneo Motors Singapore won’t hinge on a single breakthrough but on a thousand thoughtful calibrations, each one making everyday journeys feel that bit easier, calmer, and kinder to the city we share.

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