Borneo Motors cuts jobs in Singapore as part of parent company Inchcape's APAC reset

The number of employees affected has not been disclosed.

Borneo Motors, the authorised distributor of Toyota and Lexus cars in Singapore, has retrenched employees as part of a restructuring exercise to streamline its operations, cna reported.

Affected employees were informed on 30 July, which was also their last working day, according to the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU) cited by cna.

The move comes shortly after Inchcape, Borneo Motors’ UK-listed parent, said it was taking management action across APAC to reduce costs, strengthen collaboration with carmakers, and optimise its contract portfolio, according to cna. In its half-year results released on 28 July, Inchcape said APAC organic revenue fell 7% and operating margins declined, with Australia a particular drag on the region’s performance.

According to cna, Inchcape said it had reviewed its Singapore organisation to ensure the business remained well positioned for customers and brand partners.

“As a result, we are making targeted changes to streamline our operations and better align with current needs and future priorities,” a spokesperson was quoted as saying.

SMMWU said it had been informed in advance and had worked with Borneo Motors to ensure affected workers would receive severance packages in line with the collective agreement. It is continuing to engage affected members and workers to provide support.

Inchcape also said in its 28 July results that it was progressing with cost reductions and contract optimisation in APAC, where it had exited 13 “immaterial and dilutive” contracts. The group expects the benefits of its APAC management actions to come through more strongly in the second half of 2026.

Human Resources Online has reached out to Borneo Motors for a statement, and will update this story once a response is received.

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Lead image / Inchcape Facebook