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DBS crowned Southeast Asia’s most valuable brand in Kantar BrandZ 2026 ranking

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The region’s Top 30 brands are now worth US$165 billion and outperform global peers on Meaningful Difference.

Shopee, Lazada and POSB rank amongst the fastest-growing brands

SINGAPORE, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kantar, the world’s leading data, analytics and AI business, today unveiled the third edition of its BrandZ™ Southeast Asia ranking and report, revealing that Southeast Asia’s Top 30 most valuable brands are now worth a combined US$165.3 billion. The ranking highlights the resilience of the region’s strongest brands, whose value has grown 26% since 2024 despite a challenging global economic environment. Growth has been broad-based: 18 brands have grown, 16 at a double-digit pace, with four more than doubling their value. This was driven by strong consumer relevance and clear differentiation in increasingly competitive markets.

The rankings also highlight the continued dominance of Financial Services, which accounts for more than half of the total value in the Top 30. Banking brands occupy five of the top 10 positions, demonstrating the strength of consumer trust and the growing importance of financial brands in people’s daily lives.

Telecommunications remains the second-largest category, led by Thailand’s AIS, while Retail continues to gain momentum through the growth of e-commerce leaders Shopee and Lazada.

Valued at US$24.5bn, DBS has overtaken BCA to become Southeast Asia’s most valuable brand, more than doubling its value since 2024. This growth is driven by strong brand foundations, anchored in a clear commitment to sustainability and financial security – a positioning that has earned it recognition as Asia’s Safest Bank for 17 consecutive years. Its proposition also travels well beyond its home market, demonstrating its ability to scale a meaningfully different offer across multiple markets.

Kantar BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Southeast Asian Brands 2026:

2026 Rank 
(vs 2024)

Brand

Category

Brand value
2026 (US$M)

2-year
change (%)

1 (+2)

DBS

Financial Services

24,545

121 %

2 (-1)

BCA

Financial Services

22,661

-20 %

3 (+1)

AIS

Telecom Providers

14,612

65 %

4 (+3)

Shopee

Retail

10,428

116 %

5 (+1)

UOB

Financial Services

7,768

18 %

6 (-4)

BRI

Financial Services

6,438

-43 %

7 (+2)

Marina Bay Sands

Travel Services

6,092

38 %

8 (-3)

Mandiri

Financial Services

5,488

-34 %

9 (+1)

True

Telecom Providers

5,373

45 %

10 (-2)

Telkomsel

Telecom Providers

4,726

3 %

Scaling success: how top risers are accelerating growth

The fastest-rising brand in the Top 30 is POSB (People’s Own Savings Bank), leaping eight places to No.13, and increasing its value 126% to $4.4bn. Singapore’s oldest bank has strengthened its purpose – ‘Neighbours first, bankers second’ – through community-led initiatives, and emotionally compelling storytelling. Its innovative ‘Treat Yourself Right’ campaign, using GenAI to bring consumers face-to-face with their future selves, demonstrates how technology can deepen engagement while reinforcing brand meaning.

Among the 24 brands featuring in both the 2026 and 2024 rankings, those with the strongest growth also have the widest international reach, highlighting the commercial advantage of translating locally-built brand meaning into regionally relevant offers. Singaporean brand Lazada (No.12; $4.5bn; +105%) has succeeded with a strategy based on quality, authenticity and trust. It offers consumers peace of mind in a complex e-commerce landscape through its ‘100% Legit’ guarantee, and this narrative resonates across diverse markets, supporting sustained growth and strengthening consumer confidence.

Commenting on the results, Rika Sharma, Executive Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Singapore, Kantar, says: “Southeast Asia’s most valuable brands have earned their place by building deep, meaningful connections with consumers around enduring human needs that transcend markets and cultures. While many are already firmly embedded in people’s lives, sustaining growth in the years ahead will require greater ambition and innovation. The strongest brands will be those that expand into new spaces, create new sources of value for consumers and sharpen their differentiation in ways that justify premium pricing. Achieving this consistently will depend on a more strategic application of consumer and market understanding, powered by AI-enabled intelligence that helps turn brand decisions into measurable business impact.”

Newcomers combine bold positioning with cross-market relevance

Six new entrants join BrandZ’s Southeast Asian ranking this year, spanning five categories and five markets: Malaysian telecom provider CelcomDigi (No.14; $4.2bn), Vietnam-founded EV manufacturer VinFast (No.15; $4.0bn), Malaysian retailer 99 Speedmart (No.21; $2.6bn), Indonesia’s Mayapada Hospital (No.24; $2.4bn), and financial services brands SCB (Siam Commercial Bank) (No.28; $1.4bn) from Thailand and BDO (No.29; $1.4bn) from the Philippines. Each newcomer has broken into the Top 30 by establishing a clear point of differentiation that cuts through, and by amplifying that difference through focused, effective communications.

VinFast exemplifies this approach through its ‘For a Green Future’ mission, combining accessible electric mobility with ecosystem innovation, such as its GreenSM Taxi services. This clear, future-facing positioning has supported rapid expansion within Southeast Asia and beyond. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Mayapada Hospital has built momentum by positioning itself as a provider of world-class healthcare within the region, reducing the need for outbound medical travel. Its strong, digitally led communications reinforce its premium, progressive credentials among consumers.

Key trends from the 2026 Kantar BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Southeast Asian Brands report include:

Southeast Asia’s Top 30 outperform the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands on the three fundamental drivers of brand growth – Meaning, Difference and Salience – signalling their strong connection with consumers and their readiness for sustained future growthConsumers increasingly see Southeast Asian brands as ‘worth it’. By demonstrating clear Meaningful Difference, these brands reinforce perceptions of value for money and justify premium pricing.

The 2026 Kantar BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Southeast Asian Brands ranking, full report and in-depth analysis are now available at: www.kantar.com/campaigns/brandz/southeast-asia

For category-level competitive insights, Kantar’s free BrandSnapshot tool, powered by BrandZ, offers at-a-glance intelligence on 15,000 brands worldwide. Explore it here.

ENDS

About Kantar: Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business. We deliver the intelligence needed to power brand growth in the AI era. We provide the signals that help organisations act quickly and confidently. We empower brands to make effective marketing decisions based on predictive evidence. And we help them craft powerful growth strategies rooted in the connection between consumers, brands and enterprise value. All this is powered by our uniquely robust human and synthetic data, our unrivalled IP, our AI-native platform and the team of global brand experts that bring this all together.

About Kantar BrandZ: Kantar BrandZ is the global currency when assessing brand value, quantifying the contribution of brands to business’ financial performance. Kantar’s annual global and local brand valuation rankings combine rigorously analysed financial data, with extensive brand equity research. Since 1998, BrandZ has shared brand-building insights with business leaders based on interviews with 4.6 million consumers, for 22,392 brands in 54 markets. Discover more about Kantar BrandZ here.

The Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Southeast Asian Brands is the most definitive and robust ranking available. The ranking is based on interviews with more than 120,000 respondents, on 2,050 brands in 85 categories. The ranking focuses exclusively on consumer-facing brands, and brands must meet the following criteria:

The brand must have originated in one of the following markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or VietnamThe brand must be owned by a publicly listed company or by a company that publishes full financial statements in the public domain.

For more information, please contact:

Amanjit Singh, Marketing Director- APAC, Kantar | Amanjit.singh@kantar.com  
Mishuelle Wee, Digital Marketing Manager, Kantar | mishuelle.wee@kantar.com  

 

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SOURCE Kantar

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TruTrade Showcases the Next Generation of Automated Trading Technology for Retail Traders

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TruTrade, a software company specializing in automated trading technology, is showcasing the latest generation of its technology designed to bring sophisticated trading automation to retail traders.

TruTrade‘s automated trading platform is designed to simplify how traders interact with the financial markets. Rather than requiring users to spend hours monitoring charts, identifying setups and manually managing positions, TruTrade’s technology is designed to automate key components of the trading process, including trade execution and position management.

The company’s latest technology reflects a broader evolution in automated trading, with an emphasis on making advanced automation more accessible to everyday traders regardless of their previous trading experience or time availability.

“Technology has completely changed what is possible for the individual trader,” said Brian Nutt, Co-Founder of TruTrade. “Our focus has been on developing institutional-grade automated trading technology that simplifies the trading process while giving retail traders access to a level of automation that historically was not readily available to them.”

TruTrade offers automated trading solutions designed for a variety of trading environments, including personal brokerage accounts, retirement accounts and supported proprietary trading accounts. The company’s technology ecosystem includes solutions for multiple financial markets and gives users the ability to select an automated approach based on their individual trading objectives.

As part of its focus on transparency, TruTrade is also providing prospective clients with access to recorded trading sessions demonstrating its automated trading technology in real-world market conditions. New demonstrations provide an opportunity to see how the technology executes and manages trades before speaking directly with the company.

TruTrade continues to invest in making automated trading technology easier to access, understand and use as automation plays an increasingly important role in the retail trading landscape.

To learn more about TruTrade and its automated trading technology, visit TruTrade.io.

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SOURCE TruTrade

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Tau Highlights Electrification Leadership at Climate Week NYC 2026

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IEEE / Columbia University fireside chat and 19 technical papers from Tau and its research partners highlight progress in software-defined power and the technologies enabling electrification at scale.

NEW YORK and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tau Motors, Inc., a pioneer in software-defined power conversion, highlighted the technical depth behind its approach to electrification during Climate Week NYC 2026. The 19 technical papers reflecting research by Tau and its partners at the Columbia Center of Advanced Electrification (CCAE) are featured in the 2026 IEEE/CCAE Symposium on Advanced Electrification Systems program. During a fireside chat at the Columbia University event, Tau Founder and CEO Wesley Pennington discussed how integrating power electronics, electric machines, and software can accelerate electrification.

The research, developed by Tau and its partners at CCAE and featured in the symposium program, covers power conversion and control, electric machine modeling, energy storage, and grid-connected systems. The work reflects Tau’s sustained investment in power conversion, controls, and electric machine engineering, disciplines central to its Ion™ and Gamma™ platforms. The papers also highlight the breadth of Tau’s work across sustainable energy systems.

Tau’s Ion™ platform combines modular power electronics with firmware and software libraries to support applications across mobility, industrial equipment, energy infrastructure, and data centers. Its Gamma™ electric machine platform integrates machine design, power electronics, and controls to enable rare-earth-free motion.

At the September 25 symposium, Wesley Pennington, Founder and CEO of Tau, joined Matthias Preindl, Associate Professor at Columbia University and Tau’s Chief Scientist, for a fireside chat exploring the “electro-industrial stack” and what becomes possible when power electronics, electric machines, and software are designed together. The conversation examined how programmable architectures can improve system performance, reduce material dependencies, and accelerate deployment across transportation, industry, and digital infrastructure.

“Accelerating electrification means making the systems that convert and control power more efficient, more affordable, and easier to deploy,” said Pennington. “When power electronics, electric machines, and software are designed together, we can optimize the entire system. Tau is building the software-defined power platform to give industry greater control over performance, costs, and supply chains—and accelerate deployment at scale.”

The symposium featured speakers from organizations including GM Energy, Siemens, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, alongside researchers and other industry participants.

Tau established CCAE alongside Columbia Engineering to connect advanced research with the practical requirements of industrial applications. The work addresses challenges that influence efficiency, reliability, and the ability to deploy electric systems across a wider range of uses.

About Tau
Tau Motors, Inc. is an advanced technology company accelerating electrification from electric vehicles to the grid and digital infrastructure. Its Ion™ and Gamma™ platforms combine power electronics, advanced controls, and hardware design to improve the performance, economics, and adaptability of electric systems. Drawing on deep expertise in systems engineering, Tau partners with industry leaders to rapidly develop and deploy products on its platforms across industries. For more information, visit taumotors.com.

Media Contact
Tau Media Office
media@taumotors.com 

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SOURCE Tau Motors, Inc.

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ULTRALOQ Launches Next-Generation Smart Lock Collection: Refining Home Entry with Natural, Intelligent and Trusted Access Solutions

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New Bolt Mission, Bolt Pro, and Latch 5 Pro give homeowners a choice between precise, hands-free UWB entry and tap-to-unlock digital keys 

LAS VEGAS and SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ULTRALOQ, a best-selling smart lock brand under Xthings, a global leader in IoT solutions, today announced the launch and availability of its next-generation smart lock collection, built to redefine access and provide customers with a wide range of effortless entry experiences that best suit their lifestyle.

The collection includes ULTRALOQ Bolt Mission, unveiled as the industry’s first ultra-wideband (UWB) enabled smart lock, featuring precise, hands-free approach-to-unlock functionality. Joining Bolt Mission are the ULTRALOQ Bolt Pro and ULTRALOQ Latch 5 Pro which are the first multi-model line of Aliro-Certified smart locks that empowers users to leverage their phone as their key through Apple Wallet or Samsung Wallet credentials. 

The latest ULTRALOQ models arrive at a time when digital wallets and standardized access credentials are reshaping how consumers expect to access their homes and other everyday assets. For the new collection, ULTRALOQ leverages UWB to enable precise, intent-aware entry to the home and Aliro, the open mobile-access standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance with support from leading mobile ecosystems including Apple, Google and Samsung. With Aliro, ULTRALOQ brings the familiar wallet-based experience consumers already use for payments and increasingly digital car keys to the front door.

All three lock models are Matter Certified and compatible with leading smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Google Home and more, allowing users to incorporate the lock into their broader smart home experience. Bolt Pro and Latch 5 Pro also integrate with Samsung SmartThings, enabling more home-wide automations triggered by lock activity, such as turning on lights or adjusting the thermostat when the door unlocks. Household members can have their own Digital Key in Samsung Wallet, providing individual access to the same lock while SmartThings helps manage access and automations across the household.  

The collection will be available online in October through The Home Depot, where customers can shop the new ULTRALOQ lineup. The new collection delivers intelligent, effortless and trusted entry across accessible price points, empowering users to choose the access features that best suit their lifestyle and needs.

ULTRALOQ Bolt Mission: The Smart Lock That Knows When You Are Coming Home

Bolt Mission (MSRP: $299.99) delivers a precise, intent-aware hands-free entry experience by combining Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) discovery, UWB ranging, radar-based presence sensing and local decision logic. The result is hands-free entry that responds to true arrival, not strictly proximity. Rather than unlocking simply if a phone is nearby, Bolt Mission analyzes precise distance and direction of approach, allowing it to distinguish an authorized user approaching from outside from normal movement inside the home.

Designed to deliver a premium hands-free experience, users can keep their phone in their pocket or bag while the Xthings Home app runs securely in the background. With Bolt Mission, there’s no app to open upon approach, no PIN to enter and no separate hub required for hands-free entry.  

To support dependable intent detection (approach vs. departure) and efficient battery life, Bolt Mission features built-in radar to keep the lock alert when it matters most and conserve power when it does not. Intent detection logic is processed locally between the authorized phone and the lock, delivering fast approach-and-unlock entry.

ULTRALOQ Bolt Pro: Premium Front-Door Deadbolt with Wallet-Based Access 

Bolt Pro (MSRP: $269.99) is the collection’s premium digital-key deadbolt, bringing Aliro-Certified tap-to-unlock access together with fingerprint, PIN, app and physical-key entry. Aliro-Certified, Bolt Pro lets users unlock their door with a simple tap of their compatible device, without ever having to open an app. Digital keys are stored in a compatible mobile wallet, giving users a familiar tap experience similar to the contactless interactions they already use every day.

Designed to support a wide range of access methods, Bolt Pro pairs digital wallet access with fingerprint, PIN, app control and physical key backup. While digital wallet access may be ideal for everyday users, fingerprint provides fast personalized entry options and PIN codes can be issued to children, guests, cleaners or other service providers in need of access. 

ULTRALOQ Latch 5 Pro: Wallet-Based Access for More Doors

Latch 5 Pro (MSRP: $249.99) brings the same tap-to-unlock digital wallet experience to doors that use a lever rather than a deadbolt, including side entrances, home offices, garage-entry doors, rentals and shared spaces. Residents or employees can use a compatible digital wallet or fingerprint for access, while visitors and other temporary users can receive PINs. Aliro and Matter Certified, Latch 5 Pro delivers the same digital key experience and smart home platform compatibility as Bolt Pro. 

Executive Quotes

“The front door is moving away from keys and apps toward digital credentials and intent-aware access,” said Raj Sundar, Senior Director of Product Management for ULTRALOQ. “Our goal with this collection is to make that transition seamless and practical for customers, whether someone wants their door to detect their arrival and unlock hands-free or wants to quickly tap the phone or watch they carry every day to authorize entry.”

Available Online via The Home Depot

The new collection of ULTRALOQ smart locks will be available for purchase online through The Home Depot beginning in October. Customers can explore each model in the collection, compare access options, and learn more about the distinct features each lock delivers to select the ULTRALOQ model that is right for them.   

The ULTRALOQ collection is available now online through ULTRALOQ as well as Amazon and will be available online via The Home Depot in October.  

For additional information about ULTRALOQ, please visit www.ultraloq.com. 

About ULTRALOQ

ULTRALOQ, a best-selling smart lock brand under Xthings, is dedicated to developing innovative and secure smart access solutions. With a focus on blending cutting-edge technology with convenience, ULTRALOQ’s products are designed to provide a secure and keyless entry experience for both homes and businesses, making smart security more accessible than ever.

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SOURCE ULTRALOQ; Xthings Inc.

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