According to the website’s press release, the new big bike platform promises an online quote in less than 60 seconds and the option to buy online.

Roojai said it is also the first to offer a monthly payment option by debit card as well as credit card for bikers. As well, bikers can carry out a remote bike inspection in less than 10 minutes using the Roojai App.

Unlike traditional bike insurance, the company said there is no need for an appointment and no need to take time out.

Nicolas Faquet, CEO and founder of Roojai, said: “If you think about it, traditional motorcycle insurance has always been based primarily on the value of the bike itself. The more expensive the bike, the higher the premium. While it is certainly a parameter to assess the cost of an accident, Roojai and LMG are focusing more on the probability of having an accident in the first place. Understanding what the bike is used for, the rider’s safety record and experience and the power to weight ratio of the bike can all influence the likelihood of having an accident. By focusing mainly on the lower risk riders, LMG and Roojai can dramatically cut insurance costs for the safer rider.”

Dr. Boonsong Sermsrisuwan, senior vice president of sales and marketing at LMG Insurance, added: “LMG brings its longstanding international and local expertise in insurance markets to support Roojai’s newest product. With Bt1.7 billion in authorised capital, and with the Insurtech skills Roojai has to offer, it is a win-win situation. Big bike customers will get a trustworthy and reliable coverage partner with excellent customer service, at a competitive price.”

Big Bike owners can get a customised insurance quote online at www.roojai.com.

Mazda sold a total of 51,755 vehicles during this nine-month period, compared to 36,621 units during the same period last year.

Meanwhile in September, Mazda sales grew by 33 per cent to 5,880 units, up from 4,430 units during September 2017.

MST president Chanchai Trakarnudomsuk said Thai auto sales have been growing this year – 13 per cent during Q1, 26 per cent during Q2 and 22 per cent during Q3.

“This is a good sign for the industry and auto sales are expected to reach the one- million-unit mark this year,” he said.

Mazda plans to sell 65,000 vehicles in the Kingdom in 2018, up 26 per cent from last year’s 51,755 units sold.

Thailand is the sixth largest market in the world for Mazda and ranks second in terms of market share.

 A road saftey expert in Thailand welcomed the new technology but cautioned that most local logistics comapnies are small operators who may not be in a position to make such an investment in their vehicles.

Daimler has installed its latest braking system “Active Brake Assist(ABA)5” in the Mercedes-Benz Actros, a heavy-duty-truck, and Daimler buses.

The group recently showed off Daimler trucks and buses equipped with the latest braking technology at its facility in Worth as well as the Commercial Vehicles Show IAA 2018 in Hannover, Germany.

Upgraded from ABA4, the ABA 5 will activate automatically when it detects a person walking across the road in front of the vehicle.

Daimler plans to equip its FUSO trucks with the new braking system next year.

In addition to ABA5, Daimer has also installed a side-guard system in its buses and trucks. The device alerts the driver with light and sound for immediate braking when detecting an object, such as a cyclist, moving close to the sides of the vehicle.

Daimler believes that the new technology could help drivers avoid road accidents and injuries.

Other European auto manufacturers have also developed similar braking systems, but Martin Daum, head of Daimler Trucks, said the company’s technology is ahead of its competitors.

Daimler also presented its light-duty-truck, powered by battery or ecantor at the IAA show.

The electric truck is suitable for goods transport in urban areas as many big cities around the globe have enforced stringent rules on pollution caused by gas engines running on fossil fuel.

A company official quoted drivers of the electric truck in Japan as saying that, unlike other transport vehicles, they could operate it during the night without causing any noise disturbance.

The group plans to build a compete knock-down(CKD) assembly plant in the Eastern Economic Corridor this year, with an annual capacity of 4,000 trucks.

However, the first batch of Fuso trucks from the Thai facility will |not come with its latest braking |system, according to an official of Daimler Commercial Vehicles Thailand(DCVT).

The technology may be installed in the later stage, he said.

Meanwhile, Thanapong Jinvong, manager of Road Safety Group Thailand, praised the new braking systems of commercial vehicle manufacturers as a positive development. “Should Thai logistics operators use trucks and buses equipped with the new braking technology, the number of accidents could be sharply reduced, ” he said, adding that it will be a welcome measure given the different types of vehicles on Thai roads.

However, most truck companies in Thailand are small operators, they may not be able to shoulder the cost, he noted.

The number of accidents involving trucks stood at 3,564 in 2011 and 3,323 in 2012, according to Thai Insurers Datanet Co.

The majority of accidents involved motorcycles crashing into the rear of a truck parked by the roadside, or ramming into the side when a truck makes a U-turn.

There are also blind spots that might lead to a truck running over a motorcycle or side-crash with it. These accidents resulted in about 60-70 deaths a year, he said.

Thanapong, who is also secretary of Road Safety Foundation said that a campaign is currenty underway to encourage logistics companies to hire a transport safety manager who will supervise the truck drivers.

But the success of the campaign will be limited as most operators could not afford the investment in advance safety measures, he added.

The iconic Mustang, imported from the US, is the first high-powered model offered by the American automaker in Thailand. Other models offered in the Thai market include the Fiesta, Focus, Ecosport, Ranger pickup and Everest PPV (Pickup Passenger Vehicle).

The Mustang takes on the form of a fastback and is available in four exterior colour choices along with different wheel options. For the 2018 model, the 5.0-litre V8 engine with Ford’s new dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection for better low-end torque, has been beefed up to 460hp and 556Nm. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is claimed at 4.3 seconds.

The turbocharged 2.3-litre motor develops 300hp and 440Nm and features overboost function. Both are equipped with a newly developed 10-speed automatic that Ford claims has been tested over a distance of more than 10 million kilometres. Last month the American automaker was ordered by a Thai court to pay compensation worth Bt23 million to 296 customers of the Ford Fiesta, Focus and Ecosport for its defective Powershift dual-clutch transmission.

As for the Mustang, Ford engineers highlighted the various settings available for each drive mode, saying that the new gearbox allows the engine to maintain peak power and torque while upshifting, resulting in faster acceleration and seamless shifts. Both models also get the electronic line lock system that brakes the front wheels so drivers can burn the rear tires in order to achieve optimal temperature for quick standing starts.

The drag strip mode also optimises all systems for each of the many driving modes, while the exhaust volume can also be adjusted (to keep the neighbours happy).

The 2018 model gets suspension improvements for better grip and handling, including thicker anti-roll bars. Inside there’s a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a pulsating red engine start button, gearshift paddles behind the multi-function steering wheel, along with aluminium finish and soft touch materials on the door panel. There’s also a full driver assistance package and infotainment system compatible to both Android and iOS.

The Mustang is available at only 19 selected Ford dealerships in the country. The cars come with Ford Premium Care package that includes five-year/100,000km warranty, five complimentary service checks in 60 months/75,000km, and 24-hour roadside assistance for five years.

The signing reinforces Charoen Chai Group’s confidence in the Chevrolet brand and Chevrolet’s “Complete Care” commitment to provide a superior ownership experience for Chevrolet customers nationwide, the company said in a press release on Friday.

Ian Nicholls, president of GM Southeast Asia, and Chatchai Pongkapanakrai, director of CCC Auto, took part in the September 24 signing ceremony at the head office of CCC Auto, a subsidiary of Charoen Chai Group, in Ubon Ratchathani.

The 2019 A-series speakers come with adaptor kits for selected models. The kits features a variety of mounting holes that fit most car models in the market, allowing owners to easily install the speakers themselves.

“At Pioneer, we believe that everyone should have the chance to experience the best that in-car entertainment has to offer. We understand that many new car buyers desire a louder and more defined audio experience than what factory-fitted speakers can offer,” Takao Chiba, deputy general manager of product planning and marketing division, Pioneer Electronics Asia Centre, said.

“Our 2019 lineup of A-series speakers and subwoofers are not just engineered to fill that desire for a louder, more defined and dynamic audio experience, they are also made specifically to be easy to installed and fit most car models, so that drivers everywhere can enjoy the benefits of new sound technology.”

For drivers looking for more information on factory fitting and guidance on speaker choice, Pioneer has released the Pioneer CarSoundFit app, which allows users to simulate the sound quality produced by Pioneer speakers versus factory-fitted setups. Pioneer CarSoundFit is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for most countries today.

Organisers expect a large number of Chinese bus and automotive parts manufacturers to take part this year, and there will be a China Pavilion and Taiwan Pavilion, as well as a Logistics Startup Pavilion featuring various business solutions for the digital era.

Supaman Munka, assistant managing director of TTF International, said highlights will include the Golden Dragon bus from China which will feature its 35-seater coach, 24-seater city bus, and 21-seater minibus, as well as exhibits from Hino (aluminium-body minibus) and other manufacturers.

There will also be pavilions for vehicle maintenance, auto parts and accessories.

He said top producers of GPS tracking devices such as DTC Enterprise, Shenzen Startrack Technology, Intratrade Thailand and Zulex International will also be present with their latest products and technologies.

The new company will be called “Monet” — short for “mobility network” — and will be 50.25 percent owned by Softbank, with the remainder held by Toyota.

Monet would be created by April 2019 and would have an initial capital injection of 2.0 billion yen ($17.5 million), rising eventually to 10 billion yen, said the new firm’s CEO Junichi Miyakawa.

By the second half of the next decade, the new firm would be rolling out autonomous services using Toyota’s battery electric vehicles.

“Possibilities include demand-focused just-in-time mobility services, such as meal delivery vehicles where food is prepared on the move, hospital shuttles where onboard medical examinations can be performed, mobile offices,” said the two firms in a statement.

Toyota’s president Akio Toyoda has pledged to transform the auto behemoth “from a car manufacturer to a mobility company” to face what he described as a “once-in-a-century challenge” to an industry undergoing “profound change”.

Under tycoon CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, which started as a software firm, has increasingly been seen as an investment firm, ploughing funds into a broad range of companies and projects outside its core business.

In recent years it has completed deals with the likes of French robotics firm Aldebaran and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

“Softbank alone and Toyota alone cannot do everything so we should maybe team up,” said Miyakawa.

He acknowledged that rivals in the United States, China and Europe were “further down the road” but stressed: “We’re not giving up. We believe we can catch up.”

The sleek, fast and technologically-advanced Mustang delivers more athletic styling, sophisticated engine and suspension enhancements, advanced driver assistance features and more customisation options for Thai customers of the legendary sports car.

The Mustang is offered in two variants: the 5.0L V8 GT Coupe Performance Pack for Bt4,799,000 and the 2.3L EcoBoost Coupe Performance Pack for Bt3,599,000.

The Mustang is available for bookings at 19 authorised dealerships in greater Bangkok and select provinces across the country.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was guest of honour, launching the new VinFast cars at the Paris Motor Show on Tuesday.

“These cars are incredible, sleek and high-tech,” said Beckham. “It is amazing. It is so, so beautiful.

“To create something in such a short space of time is really incredible. VinFast is a miracle for Việt Nam.”

The former England football captain was joined on stage in Paris by Miss Vietnam 2018 Trần Tiểu Vy.

VinFast used the 120th Paris Motor Show to introduce to the world their new sedan and SUV models.

It’s the first time cars from Việt Nam lined up with leading brands such as Mercedes, Porche, Audi, Lamborghini and Lexus.

Speaking at the event, VinFast Chairwoman Lê Thị Thu Thuỷ said VinFast was the newest member of the Vingroup, the largest private firm in Việt Nam.

“Vingroup’s goal is to build Việt Nam’s international brand. The two cars are the first achievement on the path of realising that mission, naming on the map of the world car manufacturing industry,” she said.

More than a dream, VinFast had a seemingly impossible journey: Within just a year, it turned a swamp into the leading modern automobile manufacturing factory.

Located in coastal land Cát Hải in the northern city of Hải Phòng, the 335ha area of marsh land deserted nearly a year ago has now become a modern VinFast automobile plant with a capacity of 500,000 vehicles per year by 2025.

Journalist Paul Eisenstain from CNBC said he was extremely impressed as he visited VinFast Hải Phòng complex. “It’s huge and modern with scale no less than the modern automobile plant in the world,” he said.

VinFast’s sedan and SUV models used BMW’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines and Italian design from Pininfarina. The appearance of VinFast at the Paris Motor Show 2018 has astounded professionals in the industry and international media. Thousands of articles have been written about the vehicles, which have been developed in just over 365 days.

The names of its first two cars as LUX A2.0 for the sedan and LUX SA2.0 for the SUV were announced just one day before the Paris Motor Show 2018. However, the price has not yet been revealed.

VinFast said it was currently co-operating with leading names in Europe and America in the automotive field such as BMW, Bosch, Magna Steyr and Pininfarina, who have the best technology and experience in the world, creating LUX A2.0 and LUX SA2.0 with superior “Vietnamese identity – Italian design – German technology – international standard”.

With the goal of producing a “national car” for the Vietnamese, VinFast organised the programe “Choosing lovely car with VinFast” from the designs created by four famous Italian studios: Pininfarina, Zagato, Torino and Ital Design. The programme attracted 62,000 entries, resulting in two designs of Ital Design was voted the most.

The Paris Motor Show is one of the most important events in the motoring calendar. Also known as Mondial de l’Automobile, it was the world’s first motor show when it first opened its doors in 1898. Since 1976, it’s been held every two years.

Held in the Paris expo Porte de Versailles, the largest exhibition centre in France, the Paris Motor Show is the home turf of French manufacturers like Renault, Peugeot and Citroen, but as it’s grown in popularity it’s become a real worldwide event. Every major manufacturer shows off its wares within the show, with facelifts, all-new cars, concepts and the occasional classic car all on display.

The show opens publicly from October 1 and runs until October 16.