Driving Malaysia’s EV Future: Adeline Lew’s Vision 

Behind this sustained growth is a leader whose vision matches the dynamism of the industry itself. Adeline Lew is the Managing Director of BYD Sime Motors, overseeing the brand’s business operations, performance, profitability and long-term success in Malaysia. She manages resources and stakeholders, ensuring the company’s strategy aligns with Sime Motors’ mission. Malaysia is taking meaningful steps toward a lower-carbon future and BYD Sime Motors is right at the heart of this journey. 

In her career of more than 20 years, Adeline has brought a range of skills and expertise that blend commercial acumen, operational excellence and an instinct for nurturing strong customer and partner relationships.  

She has worked across e-commerce, financial analysis, sales & marketing, product planning and aftersales operations, all of which have shaped her experience and inform her decisions. Milestones mark the way: establishing a new brand; delivering record sales at Sime Darby Auto Connexion; and leading the after-sales team to win the Best Customer Satisfaction (Aftersales) Award in 2019. Amid her many achievements, what truly inspires her is the ongoing journey of learning from colleagues, developing a comprehensive understanding of the business and driving meaningful improvements. 

Breaking Barriers in Leadership and Building Trust 

Stepping into a leadership role in a male-dominated industry, Adeline faced two early challenges: subject-matter gaps that required learning through her team and expectations shaped by leaders who are quite different from her—a petite figure with a soft demeanour that didn’t quite fit the industry template.  Each challenge became an opportunity to learn and to prove that trust is earned through results. 

She credits her growth to superiors who believed in her, saying, “I am very grateful to my superiors who have trusted and mentored me and looked beyond my gender when considering me for roles where the majority were held by male employees.” 

What keeps her grounded is her team.  For her, it is more than just selling cars. It’s about building trust, delivering value and making sustainable driving accessible for Malaysians. 

Still, earning her team’s trust was not instant. Challenges became opportunities to prove herself and build rapport. “Every time a challenge presented itself, it became an opportunity to guide them and overcome it together. Over time, the trust increased and we became an even more cohesive team.” 

Working with a renowned EV brand, Adeline reflects on her journey with both excitement and humility. She describes it as an exhilarating yet demanding experience in an industry where opportunities are vast, but expectations from stakeholders are equally high. In such a fast-moving segment, strategies must be agile, with plans and executions often shifting at rapid speed. 

Making EVs Attainable, Not Aspirational 

“We see our role at BYD Sime Motors as helping to transform Malaysia’s automotive landscape through innovation, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future and an ownership experience that truly empowers Malaysians,” Adeline shared.  

Their mission is simple: to give Malaysians the freedom to choose sustainable mobility without compromise as for true independence means having the power to shape a better, cleaner future together. 

A Malaysian at Heart 

Malaysian values have always shaped the way Adeline approach work and leadership. Growing up in a culture that emphasises humility, respect and sincerity, she carries these principles into her professional journey. She believes that staying humble and genuine builds trust, while showing respect creates a foundation for collaboration. 

In leading a team, she strives to enhance courage and passion for learning and exploring new ideas. Challenges and mistakes are part of the process, but she views them not as setbacks, rather as lessons that guide us toward growth. AThese values remind her that leadership is less about authority and more about nurturing an environment where people feel supported, respected and inspired to grow together. 

For Adeline, Malaysia will always be home. “Malaysia is my home. I am grateful for the safe and harmonious environment I grew up in, surrounded by friends of different races and beliefs, with access to quality public education and affordable healthcare, all of which enabled me to pursue my dreams. My parents served in the government and were well cared for even after their retirement. I hope that our country will continue to prosper and remain united, so that future generations will continue to be blessed,” she says. 

Her words are more than just personal reflections but guiding values that carry into her role at BYD Sime Motors. As the company continues to pioneer Malaysia’s EV journey, Adeline believes that every effort, no matter how small, contributes to building a better future for the nation.  

As Malaysia celebrates its independence, Adeline’s story is one that resonates with the spirit of Merdeka: courage, progress and the drive to build a better tomorrow in shaping the future mobility in Malaysia.