DISCOVER WEARNES
Our Commitment
Established in 1906, Wearnes is a distributor and dealer of premium and luxury automotive marques in the region. Backed by a rich heritage, we make no compromise when it comes to investing in the latest technology and our human capital. These efforts earned us the accolade as the leading player in the luxury automotive sector of Southeast Asia.
Our distinguished clientele will relish in the ‘Wearnes Experience’ – a personal yet consummate level of service excellence that is befitting of the premium labels we represent.
Wearnes remains committed to fortifying strategic partnerships with international brands to present our customers with an extensive selection of products and services.
OUR HERITAGE
Australian brothers, Charlie Frederick Foster Wearne and Theodore James Benjamin Wearne, started the motor company and acquired the Oldsmobile agency
CFF Wearne & Co secured the Rolls-Royce franchise.
The Ford franchise was added to the portfolio.
Wearnes purchased Ford Motors (Burma) Limited in Rangoon, which held the Ford agency for the whole of Burma (now Myanmar). With this acquisition, Wearnes' automotive empire in Southeast Asia now stretched from Burma for well over 3,000km through to British North Borneo.
Wearnes purchased Ford Motors (Burma) Limited in Rangoon, which held the Ford agency for the whole of Burma (now Myanmar). With this acquisition, Wearnes' automotive empire in Southeast Asia now stretched from Burma for well over 3,000km through to British North Borneo.
Subsidiary automotive companies were formed to handle the different agencies of Wearnes to avoid any conflict of interests. The first was Malayan Motors at 14-20 Orchard Road which handled all agencies except Ford, namely Armstrong-Siddley, Morris, Sunbeam, Packard, Rolls-Royce, Essex, Erksine and Standard.
Charlie Wearne envisaged providing air service in Malaya and shipped in an Avro-Avian plane to be assembled by Malayan Motors' mechanics. The plane drew great interest when it was displayed at Malayan Motors' showroom.
The Bentley franchise was added to the portfolio when Bentley became part of the Rolls-Royce group.
Wearnes Air Services Ltd was inaugurated with two de Havilland 89 Dragon Rapide planes named 'Governor Raffles' and 'Governor Fullerton'. World War II ended the business just as it was about to turn profitable.
General Transport Company introduced three double-decker buses supplied by a Wearnes subsidiary, Federated Motors. Similar in trim and colour to those in London, the units were fitted with special extractor fans to cope with the local humid climate.
In association with the Motors Investments, Wearnes formed Associated Motor Industries Malaysia Sdn Bhd to assemble passenger cars in plants built in Batu Tiga, Selangor and in Singapore. Taking only 10 days to assemble and deliver per vehicle, the quality of Wearnes-assembled cars were said to be as good as imported ones.
The Riley, Wolesley, Austin-Healey and Princess franchises were acquired.
The Jaguar franchise was acquired.
The onset of the oil crisis aggravated by higher taxation curtailed private car ownership. Associated Motor Industries (Private) Limited ceased its operations as the car assembly business in Singapore was no longer economically viable.
Automotive operations on Orchard Road were relocated following the Government's acquisition of the properties. Malayan Motors relocated to 45 Leng Kee Road.
Wearnes sold off Associated Motor Industries Malaysia Sdn Bhd to Ford Motor Company and focussed on being an automotive retail dealer. After much deliberation, after an association for over 70 years, the Ford franchise was also eventually relinquished.
Wearnes began its regional expansion with the Jaguar franchise.
With the acquisition of SM Motors which was established in 1979, Wearnes attained the Volvo franchise.
Wearnes established a dealership to represent Mazda in Thailand.
The Volvo franchise was further expanded with dealerships in Malaysia (2003), Hong Kong (2004) and Thailand (2005).
Wearnes celebrated its centennial year and topped its achievements to-date by procuring the Bugatti sales agency for the Southeast Asia region and the Renault franchise in Singapore. Regional presence was boosted with a new Renault dealership in Hong Kong and a new Volkswagen dealership in Malaysia.
The Land Rover franchise was successfully attained by Wearnes.
Wearnes rebranded all its various automotive companies and divisions under a single brand - Wearnes Automotive - with a new tagline "Passion Driven. Since 1906."
Wearnes triumphantly won the rights to represent McLaren.
Wearnes was awarded the Infiniti franchise.
Wearnes Automotive Changchun Co, Ltd (WACC) commences operations in December 2011.
Wearnes Autohaus Sdn Bhd commences BMW Sales & Aftersales operations in January 2012.
Wearnes Autohaus Sdn Bhd open 4S facility in Tebrau, Johor for BMW, Motorrad & Mini.
CT-Wearnes opens Sales & Service facility for Lamborghini in Hanoi, Vietnam.
CT-Wearnes opens Sales & Service facility for Bentley in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Jaguar Land Rover new 3S operation opens in North Jakarta in Yos Sudarsono with 4,000 m3 of state-of-the-art Sales & Aftersales facilities which includes Exclusive Lounge, Café and new car gallery to display complete model range from JLR.
Wearnes Automotive is acquired by the StarChase group. Its core business activities comprise the sale and distribution of premium Automotive as well as Lifestyle products and services.
Jaguar Land Rover new 4S operation opens in South Jakarta in Arteri Pondok Indah is largest in ASEAN. The 6 floors of Retail and Aftersales facilities covering 4,500 m3 include Aluminium Body Repair Facilities.
Aston Martin Singapore operation opens at 45 Leng Kee Road, Singapore 159103. It is one of the largest integrated sales and aftersales facilities in Southeast Asia.
Wearnes Quest Sdn Bhd commences Aston Martin Sales and Aftersales operations in September 2016.
Bentley Kuala Lumpur commences operations of its new showroom at Etiqa Twins, 11 Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. The new flagship facility represents a contemporary interpretation of Bentley's rich 97-year history and is designed to be the ultimate source for information, guidance and exclusive access to the world of Bentley.
Ducati Singapore commences Sales and Aftersales operations in July 2017.
Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd unveiled a brand-new integrated lifestyle facility with the grand opening of its eight-storey Wearnes Automotive Centre on 1 November 2019. Located in the heart of Singapore and in close proximity to Wearnes' existing showrooms, the new Wearnes Automotive Centre is a $30 million tower that spans over 200,000 square feet across its eight storeys.
Renowned British racing brand, Lotus, will be making its entry into Singapore and has appointed leading pan-Asian luxury car retailer, Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd, as the exclusive dealer in Singapore.
Wearnes Automotive, has announced that the company will be the exclusive partner of Koenigsegg, Pininfarina and Rimac. These brands will be part of the Prestige Division which recently added Alpine and Lotus to its stable of brands that include Aston Martin and Bentley.
Polestar, the Swedish electric performance automaker, has appointed Wearnes Automotive as its exclusive distributor in Singapore.
Harley-Davidson has announced a new dealership, operated by Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd in Singapore. This will replace the current dealership which is located at Alexandra Road. The new dealership will open on 14 September 2022 and will be temporarily located at 45 Leng Kee Road, Singapore 159103.
