SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 November 2026 – AutoSwift, the Australian developer of automotive artificial intelligence platform AI WINGMAN by AutoSwift ("AI WINGMAN"), has secured a strategic investment of close to A$10 million from Singapore-headquartered X Star Technology, marking a significant milestone in its growth and ambitions to bring next-generation AI capabilities to the Australian automotive retail industry.
The investment represents a strong vote of confidence from international investors in Australian automotive AI innovation, providing fresh capital to accelerate AI WINGMAN's development and support its growth ambitions.
As AI reshapes the automotive retail landscape, AI WINGMAN is bringing a new level of intelligence and automation to dealership operations. Designed to help dealerships engage every customer at the right moment, the Australian-developed platform combines conversational AI with intelligent lead and customer engagement to capture more opportunities, strengthen customer relationships and drive sales growth.
The announcement follows the platform's showcases at the AADA (Australian Automotive Dealer Association) Convention & Expo in Sydney in July and at AIMCONNECT 2026 in Singapore in October, highlighting growing industry interest in AI-powered dealership solutions.
Australian AI innovation attracts international strategic backing
Mr Lei Shen, Director of AI WINGMAN, said the investment reflects growing recognition of the potential of purpose-built AI solutions to transform how automotive dealerships engage with their customers across the entire ownership lifecycle.
"Artificial intelligence is transforming how businesses engage with customers, and the automotive industry is no exception. Today's dealerships face more intense competition and more complex market conditions, yet many valuable sales opportunities are still lost through neglected or delayed engagement.
"AI WINGMAN was developed to address this challenge by turning untapped dealership data into actionable insights, while allowing sales teams to focus their valuable time on building relationships and converting high-potential leads.
"X Star's strategic investment is a strong endorsement of our technology and vision. It provides a solid foundation to accelerate innovation and bring Australian-developed automotive AI solutions to a broader regional market."
X Star Technology is a Singapore-headquartered automotive finance technology company with operations spanning Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.
Already being used by dealerships franchising leading automotive brands including BYD, Zeekr, Land Rover and Kia, AI WINGMAN demonstrates how Australian-developed AI technology can be applied to real-world challenges in automotive retail.
Hashtag: #AutoSwift #AIWINGMAN
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A strategic corporate collaboration combining SHARP's technology capabilities and ALPRO Pharmacy's healthcare expertise to strengthen health awareness and encourage healthier choices across everyday environments.
From Left: Ph. Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist and Engagement Director of Alpro Group ; Ph. Dr. Hiew Fei Tsong, Co-founder of Alpro Group ; Mr. Ting Yang Chung, Managing Director of Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. ; Mr. Kubo Takahiro, Vice President of Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Meaning "future" in Japanese, MIRAI reflects the belief that a healthier tomorrow begins with the choices we make today. Through this collaboration, SHARP will contribute its technology capabilities and solutions, while ALPRO Pharmacy will bring its healthcare expertise, practical guidance from its healthcare professionals and close connections with the communities it serves. Together, both organisations aim to help Malaysians better understand their health needs and make informed everyday choices.
The importance of health awareness is highlighted by Malaysia's National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2025, which found that 39.1% of Malaysians aged 60 and above are living with diabetes. Meanwhile, NHMS 2023 reported that approximately 15.6% of Malaysian adults, or one in six, are living with diabetes.
These findings reinforce the need for accessible, accurate health information and greater awareness of the everyday choices that contribute to overall wellbeing.
MIRAI Living is envisioned as an evolving platform that brings together health education, technology and practical lifestyle solutions. It aims to make relevant health information easier to understand and apply, while encouraging individuals and communities to take a more proactive approach to their wellbeing.
Through the collaboration, SHARP's technology capabilities and solutions will complement ALPRO Pharmacy's healthcare expertise and community reach. The partnership will explore ways to translate health awareness into practical applications across homes, workplaces, schools and community settings. SHARP's healthy-living technologies and products, including air-care and food-preparation solutions, may serve as examples of how innovation can support healthier environments and everyday routines.
The collaboration also creates opportunities to engage organisations and employers through workplace wellness initiatives. Potential activities may include health-awareness programmes, educational sessions, office pantry solutions and premium corporate gifting, supporting ALPRO's employee wellness programmes and extending the reach of MIRAI Living beyond individual consumers.
Consumer-facing initiatives may also combine selected SHARP products with ALPRO Pharmacy's health and wellness offerings, supported by guidance from its healthcare professionals. This approach will help consumers better understand their health and wellness needs and how relevant products and solutions can support their everyday lives.
"At SHARP, our philosophy, 'In Step With Your Future,' reflects our commitment to using innovation and technology to create meaningful value for society. We believe that technology can play an important role beyond products by supporting greater awareness, access to information and better everyday experiences. Through MIRAI Living, we are joining forces with ALPRO Pharmacy to bring together SHARP's technology capabilities and ALPRO's healthcare expertise. Our shared ambition is to help Malaysians make informed choices and build healthier habits wherever they are — at home, at school, at work or in their communities," said Mr Ting Yang Chung, Managing Director of Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
The collaboration draws on the complementary strengths of both organisations: SHARP's technology capabilities, innovation and experience across consumer and business solutions, alongside ALPRO Pharmacy's healthcare expertise and the practical insights gained through its engagement with the community.
Together, both organisations aim to make accurate and relevant health information more accessible, connect awareness with practical everyday action, and encourage healthier environments across homes, workplaces, schools and communities.
"Through the daily interactions our pharmacists, nutritionists and dietitians have with the community, we understand the questions and challenges people face in managing their health. We believe that healthier communities begin with awareness, education and access to reliable health information. Through MIRAI Living, we aim to bring this practical understanding and trusted healthcare guidance together with SHARP's technology capabilities, helping Malaysians turn health awareness into informed everyday action. By making health knowledge more accessible and relevant across homes, workplaces, schools and communities, we hope to encourage healthier choices and contribute to a more informed, health-conscious society," said Ph Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist and Engagement Director of Alpro Pharmacy.
MIRAI Living marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration, with both organisations looking to develop initiatives that promote health awareness, share reliable information and encourage healthier choices across different stages of life and everyday environments.
Planned areas of collaboration may include public education, digital content, community engagement, workplace wellness programmes and the introduction of relevant technology and wellness solutions. Specific activities will be developed progressively by both organisations.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at ALPRO headquarters on 4 November 2026, marking a shared commitment to developing MIRAI Living as an ongoing initiative.
Guided by SHARP's philosophy, "In Step With Your Future," and ALPRO Pharmacy's promise, "Reassurance That Brings Smiles," MIRAI Living brings together technology and trusted healthcare guidance to help Malaysians feel safe, confident and supported in making healthier everyday choices. It reflects both organisations' shared aspiration to build a more informed and health-conscious society.
Sources and References
Note: The NHMS 2025 figure applies specifically to Malaysians aged 60 and above; the NHMS 2023 figure refers to the broader adult population
Hashtag: #SHARP #ALPROPharmacy
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ALPRO X SHARP
About Alpro Group
Founded in 2002, Alpro Group's ecosystem has grown to include Alpro Pharmacy, Apotek Alpro, Alpro スギ (Sugi) Pharmacy, Alpro Physio, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Baby, Alpro OptiSaver, Alpro Audiology, Alpro Health, and Alpro Foundation. Supported by a team of more than 1,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists, optometrist and many others, Alpro serves over 5 million families in Malaysia and Indonesia through its extensive network of 500 physical outlets.
Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the region to offer product liability insurance of MYR 1 million in Malaysia and IDR 3 billion in Indonesia, ensuring the supply of genuine medications and enhancing consumer trust.
With the vision of a healthy and vibrant world, Alpro Group aims to become the No. 1 prescription pharmacy chain in Southeast Asia.
About Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Established in 1985, Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. is the Malaysian sales and marketing arm of SHARP Corporation, a Japanese technology brand with a heritage of innovation dating back to 1912.
Guided by its founding business philosophy of "Sincerity and Creativity" and corporate slogan, "In step with your future.", SHARP strives to stay half a step ahead of people's wishes by understanding their evolving needs and anticipating ways to make everyday life better through innovative technologies and thoughtful design.
Spanning Smartlife and SmartWorkPlace, SHARP combines Japanese innovation with local insights to deliver quality products and meaningful solutions that enhance the way Malaysians live and work.
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