Borneo Motors celebrates landmark 100 years in Singapore

Don't worry: You're not hallucinating if you step into the Toyota and Lexus' Leng Kee showrooms sometime soon, and find yourself in a space that has fresh shades of both a science centre and a history museum.

Celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2025, Borneo Motors Singapore (BMS) has kicked its centennial festivities into full swing. The broad sweep of commemorative events prepared for visitors and loyal customers alike run the gamut from special displays in the Lexus and Toyota showrooms, exclusive partnerships, and even limited-production special-edition models. In all, these events are intended to chart BMS' 100-year journey thus far, but also celebrate its present and future.

Leng Kee's Toyota and Lexus showrooms have been transformed into the BMS100 Museum, showcasing testimonials from key individuals in BMS' 100-year journey

For starters, the Lexus and Toyota showrooms have been transformed into what has been dubbed the 'BMS100 Museum'. Storytelling is a key part of this walk down memory lane; on both ends, you'll find testimonials gathered from customers, long-serving staff, media friends and business partners, all of whom have shared a close relationship with BMS.

Those amongst us of a certain vintage, however, will likely be taken in most strongly by a blocky blast from the past: A display of the very last Toyota Crown Taxi in 2014 from SMRT Corporation.

You'll also get to see this Kabuto presented by Toyota to BMS for its first Triple Crown Award in 1988

Featured alongside the special Crown Taxi is a physical example of the 'Taximeters' from the 1930s, which BMS holds the honour of creating. First introduced as an experimental tool to combat pirate taxis and arbitrary fares, these turned out to be industry-changing as they became mandatory for all local taxis by the end of 1953.

Since securing the Toyota franchise in 1967, BMS has also clinched 14 Triple Crown Awards from the brand - bestowed upon official dealers who manage to top the sales charts for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and the overall automotive market in their country. Here, visitors will get to see the Kabuto (a samurai helmet) given to BMS by Toyota when it won its first Triple Crown Award in 1988. 

This interactive exhibit - featuring a sliced up Corolla Cross - showcases Toyota's self-charging hybrid technology 

As mentioned, of course, the festivities this time are directed not just at the past but at celebrating the present and future - while re-emphasising BMS' commitment to strategic homegrown partnerships.

Greeting visitors directly in the Toyota showroom is an interactive exhibit that showcases how Toyota's self-charging hybrid system works. Brought to life in collaboration with the students from Singapore Polytechnic's School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, the exhibit even features a sliced up Toyota Corolla Cross mated to an interactive Surface Pro, to demonstrate how energy flows between the car's battery and engine in various driving scenarios.

Lexus has expanded its partnerships with Patisserie CLE and Bynd Artisan, with the birth of a special-edition pastry and bespoke car key folios respectively

Lexus, which refreshed its Lexus Boutique just last year in November, has its own goodies to bring to the table too.

Building on its partnership with local artisan bakery, Patisserie CLE, the brand is now serving up the 'BMS 100 Special Edition Lexus Maze Gashi cake' till the end of 2025, which is inspired by a dish that is truly and uniquely Singaporean: Rojak. 

Given that craftsmanship is one of its brand pillars, it should come as no surprise too that Lexus has roped in local brand Bynd Artisan for its 'Lexus x Bynd Artisan BMS100 Car Key Folio', which will eventually slide into the possession of 200 lucky Lexus owners.  

Owners of the special edition LBX Urbanite - limited to 100 units - will also be the proud recipients of the Lexus x Bynd Artisan BMS100 Car Key Folio

If you're wondering how to get your hands on them, 100 of these bespoke car key folios will be offered to Lexus owners during the BMS100 celebratory Open House on 23 August, 24 August, 30 August and 31 August. 

The other half, however, brings us to yet another headlining act of the 100^th anniversary celebrations: Special edition models of two very important members in the Toyota and Lexus families. 

The LBX Urbanite gets a dechromed exterior, as well as Citrine Yellow accents on its front end and brake callipers

Make your way into the middle of the Lexus Boutique, and you'll now find the Lexus LBX Urbanite, which is said to pay homage to Singapore's status as a modern urban city. Based on the Elegant trim of the 'run-of-the-mill' LBX, the LBX Urbanite gets a dechromed body, Gloss Black Japanese rims, and Citrine yellow accents on its grille and brake callipers. Only 100 units of the LBX Urbanite will be made and - yes, you guessed it - all of its owners will be presented with the Lexus x Bynd Artisan BMS100 Car Key Folio. 

Similarly, BMS has also pulled the covers off the BMS100 Special Edition Toyota Corolla Cross, which will also be limited to just 100 units. 

The BMS100 Special Edition Corolla Cross features gunmetal rims and Nappa leather upholstery

Based on the facelifted Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (which was officially launched at the event), this special edition gets more sumptuous Nappa leather upholstery, sporty gunmetal rims, and of course, special 'BMS100' badging. 

And that's still not where the celebrations end. 

Making a special preview at the event: The Toyota Noah Hybrid

Set to join BMS' Toyota family in Singapore is the Toyota Noah Hybrid, which was officially previewed for the first time at the event. Its impending arrival will complete BMS' lineup of MPV offerings to customers as it joins the compact Sienta Hybrid and premium Alphard/Vellfire Hybrid twins.

BMS has also reinforced its community outreach efforts via collaborations with Grab Singapore to provide 100 complimentary rides for selected beneficiaries, and with social enterprise The Art Faculty to spotlight the artwork of individuals on the autism spectrum.

BMS has also collaborated with The Art Faculty and Superga for these Special-Edition Superga 2750 shoes

The latter can be found on a limited run of 100 pairs of Special-Edition Superga 2750 shoes, which bear patches of the Lexus LBX, Toyota Corolla Cross and Toyota Noah, designed by an artist from The Art Faculty. 

Finally, the centennial celebration will see BMS introducing lifetime assurance campaigns on selected Lexus and Toyota models, which offer a 100-month engine and transmission protection plan, a 100-month hybrid battery warranty, 100 months of servicing, and 100 months worth of road tax rebates*. The BMS100 Special Edition Toyota Corolla Cross and Lexus LBX Urbanite are also now on sale with a BMS100-exclusive interest rate of 2.08%, applicable only for the current COE cycle.

*Terms and conditions to apply