CARSOME SDN. BHD.

CARSOME SDN. BHD. stands as one of Southeast Asia’s most influential technology-driven automotive platforms — a company that transformed how cars are bought and sold across the region.

Founded in 2015, the company emerged with a mission to digitise the traditionally fragmented used car industry by introducing transparency, efficiency, and trust into a market long associated with uncertainty and inconsistent pricing. Through technology, data analytics, inspection systems, and integrated automotive services, CARSOME reimagined the car ownership journey for both consumers and dealers.

Today, CARSOME is recognised as Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform and Malaysia’s first technology unicorn, representing a major milestone within the nation’s digital economy and startup ecosystem.

Founder:

Eric Cheng

Teoh Jiun Ee

Current Leadership:

Group CEO: Eric Cheng

The leadership continues guiding the company with a vision of building a fully integrated automotive ecosystem powered by technology, operational efficiency, and data-driven customer experiences.

Some companies are built on opportunity — CARSOME was built on frustration.

The idea originated from a simple but common problem experienced firsthand by its founders: buying and selling used cars was often inefficient, unclear, and lacking trust. Pricing inconsistencies, fragmented dealer networks, hidden conditions, and complicated transaction processes created uncertainty for both buyers and sellers across the automotive market.

In 2015, Eric Cheng and Teoh Jiun Ee decided to address these issues by creating a digital platform designed to simplify and standardise the used car transaction process. What began as a basic online comparison and marketplace platform quickly evolved into a much more ambitious vision — an integrated automotive ecosystem combining technology, inspections, pricing transparency, and transaction support into a unified experience.

The company’s early years involved constant experimentation and strategic pivots. Rather than remaining solely a listing or comparison platform, CARSOME gradually expanded into full transaction facilitation by introducing vehicle inspections, dealer bidding systems, logistics coordination, and pricing standardisation mechanisms.

As the platform matured, the company expanded aggressively across Southeast Asia, entering multiple regional markets while continuing to refine its technology infrastructure and operational systems. A major turning point arrived with the launch of CARSOME Certified — a consumer retail model that moved the company beyond marketplace operations into end-to-end automotive retail and ownership services.

From a startup solving everyday frustrations to a regional automotive technology leader, CARSOME’s journey demonstrated how digital innovation could modernise even one of the most traditional sectors of commerce.

Core Activities:

• Online platform for buying and selling used vehicles

• Vehicle inspection and certification services

• Dealer marketplace and inventory management solutions

• Financing, insurance, and ownership-related services

The company focuses on digitising the entire car ownership journey through integrated technology platforms, data analytics, operational infrastructure, and customer-centric transaction systems. By combining marketplace functions with inspection, financing, and retail operations, CARSOME positions itself as a comprehensive automotive ecosystem provider.

Notable Offerings Include:

• CARSOME online used car marketplace

• CARSOME Certified pre-owned vehicle programme

• Vehicle inspection, valuation, and pricing systems

• Automotive financing and ownership-related services

These offerings position CARSOME as a trusted automotive technology platform delivering end-to-end vehicle transaction and ownership solutions.

2015 – Company founded in Malaysia

2016–2020 – Expansion across Southeast Asian markets

2018 – Emerged as one of Malaysia’s leading used car platforms

2020 – Launch of consumer retail model through CARSOME Certified

2021 – Achieved unicorn status following major funding rounds

2020s – Expansion into a fully integrated automotive ecosystem

CARSOME contributed significantly to the automotive industry by digitising and modernising the used car transaction process across Southeast Asia.

The company improved transparency within automotive pricing and vehicle condition assessments while reducing inefficiencies associated with traditional used car transactions. Through inspection systems, standardised pricing methodologies, and integrated transaction support, CARSOME helped rebuild consumer trust within the second-hand automotive market.

Its rapid regional growth also demonstrated the scalability of Southeast Asian technology platforms while strengthening Malaysia’s position within the region’s startup and digital economy ecosystem. As Malaysia’s first technology unicorn, CARSOME became a symbol of the country’s growing capability in building globally recognised digital enterprises.

Today, CARSOME SDN. BHD. stands as a symbol of digital disruption — a testament to how technology, persistence, and customer-focused innovation can transform even the most traditional industries into transparent and accessible ecosystems.

From a startup born out of frustration with outdated processes to Southeast Asia’s leading integrated automotive platform, the company’s journey reflects the broader transformation of commerce in the digital age. Its continued evolution demonstrates that trust, when strengthened by technology and operational execution, can redefine entire industries and consumer behaviours across borders.