Clarion’s vision for the future of automotive technology

TK Tan, the Managing Director of Clarion Malaysia Sdn Bhd. 

By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

In a candid and engaging conversation, TK shared his insights on the company’s long-standing heritage, its pioneering efforts in automotive electronics, and how Clarion is reshaping the future of smart, connected vehicles.

IMNA: Thank you for joining us today, TK. Let’s start by talking about Clarion’s innovations. What are the key advancements in automotive audio, navigation, and safety systems that Clarion is pioneering?

TK Tan: That’s a big question—we do all of the above and more. Clarion, traditionally, is the oldest car audio company in Japan. Clarion Malaysia was founded in 1970 as a joint venture with my late father. Back then, it wasn’t about contracts—it was about trust and partnership. That joint venture ended up being Japan’s first electronics factory overseas.

Over the past 55 years, we’ve grown from simple electronics assembly to a full R&D operation. Today, we only produce what we design, and we even develop the processes for production. Our latest major project was an advanced car stereo system with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay. It supports multiple languages, connects globally, and was a US$32 million development involving over 6 million lines of code and 1,500 components.

IMNA: That’s incredible. How big is your team?

TK Tan: We have 500 employees, and we’ve never had a single retrenchment since day one. That’s something we’re very proud of. Our goals are simple: celebrate 100 years, maintain zero retrenchment, and keep our team at 500. These goals drive our operations and our tech acquisitions.

IMNA: Vehicles today are increasingly connected. How is Clarion adapting to new mobility and safety challenges?

TK Tan: The key is convergence. Whether it’s radar, LiDAR, or cameras—these technologies are also used in smart cities or smart borders. Connectivity like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 5G is vital. Historically, everything in the car was mechanical. Today, even mirrors are software-driven.

We're heavily invested in sensor fusion—combining radar, LiDAR, and cameras to improve ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and eventually autonomous driving. Integration is key. We work with partners like Qualcomm to develop next-gen cockpits that are software-defined and fully connected.

IMNA: How long have you been using Dassault Systèmes solutions like CATIA?

TK Tan: We were the first in Southeast Asia to adopt CATIA—about 28 years ago. Most automotive companies were using 2D CAD back then. I had a UK education, which gave me a different perspective, so we jumped into 3D early. We even convinced Malaysia’s national carmaker to go 3D. Japan followed soon after.

IMNA: What are some of the technical challenges in integrating sophisticated infotainment and safety systems?

TK Tan: Our joint venture gives us freedom. Japan’s corporate culture sometimes resists new ideas, but I had room to innovate. For instance, we were the first to develop Bluetooth in cars, even when others said it wasn’t necessary.

We also developed in-car surround sound using psychoacoustics—software that makes it sound like the audio is coming from the windshield, even though the speaker is near your ankle. People said we were cheating, but it worked. My background in UK university research—like robotic simulation for satellites—gave me the confidence to apply engineering software in new ways.

IMNA: That’s a great story. How did Clarion handle the challenges during the pandemic?

TK Tan: Without our R&D, we wouldn’t have survived year one. COVID disrupted the supply chain completely. We had to redesign circuits using alternative parts and get them re-approved by carmakers. Engineering saved us. Post-COVID, we needed more flexibility and real-time monitoring, so we fully integrated Dassault’s platform—ENOVIA, DELMIA, and more.

IMNA: You mentioned real-time monitoring. How does that help you?

TK Tan: For a small company, it’s essential. Big companies might have 50 factories, but we have three. We use the software to link R&D, manufacturing, and customer feedback. It gives us real-time visibility into operations and costing, even with currency fluctuations. We’re also educating our supply chain by letting them tour our factory and see the software in action.

IMNA: That's a smart approach. So how is Clarion working with OEMs and tech partners?

TK Tan: Tech acquisition is key. For example, electric vehicles (EVs) demand longer lifespans. Traditional automotive standards don’t apply, so we adopted medical-grade standards like ISO 13485 and began producing medical devices and aerospace PCBs to learn.

We’re also developing advanced cooling systems for EVs. Tomorrow, we’re showcasing a bladeless ionic fan—it pushes air using charged particles. No blades, no noise, and it reduces the thickness of devices like computers or onboard systems.

IMNA: That sounds futuristic! Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping the future of automotive audio and safety?

TK Tan: The car will eventually drive itself. That’s where all this is heading. We’re working with partners in San Jose to shrink a US$150,000 radar that can see drones at 1.2 kilometers into something car-sized and cost-effective. All this will be software-defined, powered by AI and analytics.

Clarion Malaysia is positioning itself to support our global group with the tech and parts they’ll need—software, hardware, sensors, everything. We already use 5G indoors at our factory to support smooth AGV operations and real-time data. That’s our vision.