Singapore, 13 October 2026 — More than 250 senior leaders and decision-makers from 11 countries gathered in Singapore for AIMCONNECT 2026, a flagship executive forum exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are transforming the automotive, finance and technology sectors. The event brought together representatives from more than 100 automotive organisations, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and dealerships, over 60 financial institutions, and approximately 20 technology organisations, highlighting the growing convergence of mobility, finance and digital innovation.
Organised by X Star Technology and Aimotion at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, AIMCONNECT 2026 was held under the theme “Where Mobility Meets the Future”. The forum provided a platform for automotive manufacturers, dealers, financial institutions, technology companies and ecosystem partners to exchange insights, explore collaboration opportunities and discuss solutions to improve efficiency across the mobility value chain.
In his keynote address, X Star Technology Chief Executive Officer Shawn Yang highlighted the significant potential of AI in connecting previously fragmented parts of the automotive ecosystem. He noted that an estimated 60% to 80% of car purchases in Southeast Asia involve financing, yet only around 10% of consumer prospects ultimately complete the process and secure financing. This presents opportunities for autonomous agent-driven infrastructure, predictive intelligence and connected partner networks to reduce friction, improve conversion rates and create a more seamless vehicle purchasing and financing experience.
The forum featured panel discussions involving prominent industry representatives from the automotive and technology sectors, including Federico Chester of Uber, Akkbar Danial of DRB-HICOM/EON, James Ng of BYD Singapore, Xiao Ting of MK.X, and representatives from Google Cloud, Deloitte, Carro and Deutsche Bank. Discussions focused on three key areas: how personal AI and emerging technologies are influencing consumer behaviour and mobility decisions; how data and intelligence can improve the vehicle purchasing and ownership journey; and how stronger collaboration among consumers, dealers, lenders and technology providers can create a more integrated automotive financing ecosystem.
MStar Chief Executive Officer Zhang Peng said the future of automotive financing depends on how effectively industry participants connect across the ecosystem. He emphasised that collaboration between dealers, lenders, financial institutions and technology providers can create a smoother financing process, improve access to relevant information and help customers make better-informed decisions. Meanwhile, MK.X Chief Executive Officer Xiao Ting observed that AI and emerging technologies are changing how consumers approach mobility, with future decisions potentially shifting from vehicle ownership towards more personalised and flexible transportation solutions.
Live audience polls at AIMCONNECT 2026 also provided insights into changing consumer preferences and industry priorities for AI adoption. When asked about the future of car ownership over the next decade, 54% of respondents expected flexible mobility options to become the preferred choice, while 46% believed traditional car ownership would remain dominant. Regarding improvements to automotive financing, 38% identified better connectivity between institutions as the top priority, followed by improved infrastructure for data collection and analysis at 28%, greater customer centricity at 18%, and stronger consumer protection without restricting innovation at 16%.
qualifying leads to underwriting deals.
These findings highlighted the importance of collaboration and information-sharing among industry stakeholders to develop a more efficient, transparent and customer-focused automotive financing ecosystem. They also underscored the need to balance technological innovation with consumer trust, data protection and accessibility throughout the customer journey, from initial enquiries to financing approval and vehicle ownership.
Beyond strategic discussions, AIMCONNECT 2026 featured live demonstrations and an innovation showcase highlighting practical applications of emerging technologies in automotive commerce and mobility. X Star Technology presented Xport, its agentic AI platform, which demonstrated one-click lead-to-loan matching and real-time approvals. Meanwhile, Aimotion showcased its end-to-end AI marketing ecosystem, featuring automated video workflows designed to help businesses manage content creation, engage customers, qualify leads and improve sales conversion.
Other featured solutions included MStar’s AI-native automotive fintech platform, ai WINGMAN’s conversational customer support software powered by Autoswift, and MK.X’s AI-driven electric vehicle (EV) transportation network. The demonstrations illustrated how AI technologies are progressing beyond experimentation towards practical commercial deployment, helping businesses automate processes, improve operational efficiency and enhance customer experiences across the automotive sector.
Bryan Tan, Chief Scientist of Carro Group and Chief Executive Officer of Carro Indonesia, said AI delivers the greatest value when it connects different stages of the automotive journey, from understanding customer needs to helping teams respond more effectively. Dr Harold Teng, Director and Chief Project Coordinator of MKX Technology, added that the real value of AI lies in improving everyday experiences for drivers and passengers, enhancing safety and making mobility more intuitive for consumers.
Yang further emphasised that building a connected mobility economy requires collaboration among dealers, mobility service platforms, automakers, financial institutions, technology companies and government stakeholders. He highlighted the importance of embedding trust into AI systems from the outset to ensure that data-sharing and automation can be implemented securely and effectively. Matthew Duncan, Director and Chief Executive Officer of JWT Bespoke, similarly stressed that effective regulation should protect consumers while allowing the industry to improve vehicle purchasing and financing processes.
Looking ahead, AIMCONNECT 2026 highlighted that the future success of the automotive industry will depend on flexibility, pricing transparency and stronger cross-sector collaboration. AI is expected to play an increasingly important role in automating tasks such as financing calculations, pricing and fraud detection, while human expertise will remain essential for high-impact decisions and meaningful customer relationships. Through industry dialogue and practical technology demonstrations, AIMCONNECT aims to support a more connected, responsible and sustainable mobility ecosystem, with data privacy and transparency remaining central priorities.
For more information on AIMCONNECT, please visit https://event.aimconnect.net/.
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