{"slug": "big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-into-australia-and-future", "title": "Big everywhere else: Carro CEO explains its latest move into Australia and future plans", "summary": "Singapore-based used car platform Carro, valued at about US$3 billion in 2025 and operating across eight Asia-Pacific markets, has completed an acquisition in Australia to enter one of the region's most profitable automotive markets. CEO Aaron Tan said the company's modular software infrastructure allowed it to digitize the Australian acquisition within days, and that Carro's headcount has fallen 15% even as revenues grow because AI is handling more work in customer service, HR, and finance.", "body_md": "# Big everywhere else: Carro CEO explains its latest move into Australia and future plans\n\nSingapore’s Carro on Australia's automotive landscape, AI-driven innovation, and ties with Chinese EV manufacturers.\n\nValued at around US$3 billion in 2025 and now operating across eight markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Carro is not a company that stands still. Its latest move is a freshly completed acquisition in Australia, giving the used car platform a foothold in one of the region’s most profitable automotive markets. The question is what Carro actually brings to a market that already has its own trust problems, and where the company goes from here.\n\nIn this episode of *TransportBT*, a podcast of *BT Correspondents*, Derryn Wong sits down with Carro CEO, Aaron Tan for a candid conversation about margins, data, AI and what it actually takes to run a car business across markets as different as Perth and Jakarta.\n\n**Why listen**\n\n**Why developed markets like Australia and Hong Kong are actually more attractive** Tan explains the margin difference between developed and emerging markets, why that gap exists and why he wishes Carro had moved into developed markets earlier.\n\n**Why Carro digitised its Australian acquisition within days of completing the deal** The company’s modular software infrastructure means it can spin up a new market instance almost immediately. Tan explains how that works and why it matters for growth.\n\n**Why odometer tampering is a bigger problem than most people realise** Tan makes the case that this is not just a consumer issue but a genuine safety concern, and explains what Carro’s data bureau ambitions could do about it.\n\n**Why Carro’s headcount has fallen 15 per cent even as revenues grow** AI is doing more of the work across customer service, HR and finance. Tan is direct about what that means for the business.\n\nThe IPO question is still open. The growth story is already well underway. Listen now.\n\nDiscover more episodes at [bt.sg/podcasts](https://bt.sg/podcasts). Got feedback? Email us at [btpodcasts@sph.com.sg](mailto:btpodcasts@sph.com.sg)\n\n---\n\nWritten and hosted by: Derryn Wong (derrynwong@sph.com.sg)\n\nWith Aaron Tan, CEO, Carro\n\nEdited by: Nicole Teo & Claressa Monteiro\n\nProduced by: Derryn Wong, Nicole Teo & Chai Pei Chieh\n\nA podcast by BT Podcasts, *The Business Times*, SPH Media\n\n---\n\nFollow BT Correspondents:\n\nChannel: [bt.sg/btcobt](https://bt.sg/btcobt)\n\nAmazon: [bt.sg/btcoam](https://bt.sg/btcoam)\n\nApple Podcasts: [bt.sg/btcoap](https://bt.sg/btcoap)\n\nSpotify: [bt.sg/btcosp](https://bt.sg/btcosp)\n\nYouTube Music: [bt.sg/btcoyt](https://bt.sg/btcoyt)\n\nWebsite: [bt.sg/btcorresp](https://bt.sg/btcorresp)\n\nDo note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.\n\n---\n\nDiscover more BT podcast series:\n\nBT Money Hacks: [bt.sg/btmoneyhacks](https://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks)\n\nBT Podcasts: [bt.sg/pcOM](https://bt.sg/pcOM)\n\nBT Market Focus: [bt.sg/btmktfocus](https://bt.sg/btmktfocus)\n\nBT Lens On: [bt.sg/btlenson](https://bt.sg/btlenson)\n\nDecoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.\n\nCopyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.\n\n## ABOUT THE PODCAST\n\nBT Correspondents brings together some of The Business Times’ most trusted columnists in a single series. Featuring Mark to Market, WealthBT, TransportBT, and PropertyBT, weekly episodes deliver expert analysis and clear perspectives on stocks, wealth, mobility, and real estate. It is essential listening for professionals who want context, clarity, and depth.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-into-australia-and-future", "canonical_source": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/podcasts/big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-australia-and-future-plans", "published_at": "2026-07-20 21:00:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-20 21:24:36.023162+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-products", "ai-infrastructure"], "entities": ["Carro", "Aaron Tan", "Australia", "Singapore", "Asia-Pacific"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-into-australia-and-future", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-into-australia-and-future.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-into-australia-and-future.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/big-everywhere-else-carro-ceo-explains-its-latest-move-into-australia-and-future.jsonld"}}