The Detroit auto giant’s earnings fell 37 percent to $991 million compared to a year earlier. But that translated into 29 cents per share, which was a penny above analyst expectations.

Revenues rose 3.3 percent to $37.6 billion.

Ford’s North America business was the bright spot in the latest quarter, with truck and sport utility vehicles sales rising 2.8 percent from the prior year, amid strong demand for the best-selling F-series truck and other large vehicles.

But Ford’s overseas divisions remained pressured, with Asia Pacific suffering an operating loss of $208 million following a steep drop in Chinese car sales. Europe also had an operating loss.

Higher commodity costs also weighed on results once again, due in part to US trade tariffs on aluminum and steel that have raised the cost of those metals.

Ford Chief Executive Jim Hackett has warned that metals tariffs caused a $1 billion hit to company earnings.

Earlier this month, the automaker announced plans to cut its global workforce in connection with a reorganization the company has said could result in result one-time charges of $11 billion over the next three to five years.

Ford shares jumped 5.5 percent to $8.64 in after-hours trading.

It said the merged company will rank in the top 10 auto parts suppliers globally with annual sales of 15.2 billion euros ($17.6 billion).

There will be a multi-year supply agreement with Fiat Chrysler.

This agreement will underscore “the combined entity’s commitment to maintain Magnetti Marelli’s operations in Italy and sustain its industrial footprint and employment levels,” a joint statement said.

The deal should be closed in the first half of 2019, it added.

CK is controlled by US investment house KKR.

Fiat Chrysler said earlier this year that it planned to hive off its auto parts unit.

Mike Manley, the new head of Fiat Chrysler, said the deal will boost growth at Magneti Marelli which will remain one of the group’s most important business partners.

Unions welcomed the deal.

“It is a great opportunity for growth,” said Fim-Cisl’s Marco Bentivogli.

“The guarantee on all current employment in our country is important,” he added.

Magneti Marelli, founded in 1919, employs some 43,000 people and operates in 21 countries. Sales last year came to 8.2 billion euros.

While Thailand is the largest market for pickup trucks in the Asean region, Indonesia is the biggest market for MPVs (Multi-Purpose Vehicles), which is a good thing.

That’s because vehicles produced within Asean are exchanged without import duties due to our regional free-trade agreement, which means production hubs in each country can specialise in what customers in their markets want most.

Although Thailand’s auto market comprises mainly passenger cars and pickup trucks (we’re the world’s largest 1-ton pickup truck market), there is growing demand for MPVs that can accommodate large families when required. That means such families need to have third-row seats for the sixth and seventh passengers.

 The folding seats also make MPVs highly functional lifestyle vehicles that can serve many purposes, just like its name suggests.

Thailand serves as the production and export centre for Japanese automaker Mitsubishi, with its Laem Chabang plants churning out Triton pickups, Pajero Sport PPV and Mirage/Attrage eco cars.

In order to expand its product portfolio (Mitsubishi ceased production of the Lancer compact car ages ago), the company decided to re-enter the MPV segment (it was highly successful with the Space Wagon in the past), but with a smaller product – the Xpander.

Built in Indonesia, the Xpander is imported to Thailand and competes against fellow Indonesian-made rivals like the Honda Mobilio, Suzuki Ertiga and Toyota Sienta.

Executives at Mitsubishi Motor Thailand Co Ltd (MMTh) said the new model is targeted not only at customers interested in small MPVs, but also buyers from other vehicles segments (including passenger cars and pickups) who want a better value-for-money product.

Priced at Bt779,000 for the 1.5 GLS Ltd and Bt849,000 for the 1.5 GT, the Xpander’s first attraction seems to be its affordable pricing. I picked up the Xpander GT from the new MMTh head office in Klongtoey area and had it for a week. Honestly, I didn’t expect much from it, but it turned out pretty okay and that’s surely a good thing for Mitsubishi.

In terms of design, Mitsubishi has been adopting spaceship themes (they call it Advanced Dynamic Shield styling) for many years and the Xpander is the latest example.

The front end, highlighted by the crystal LED headlights and protruding wheel arches, reminds you of an aggressive robot, while the side profile is toned down, and you can notice a somewhat unfinished attempt to create a “floating roof” (there’s a black portion on the C-pillar but not on the A-pillar). The GT gets two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres. Going back to the rear end, I felt that it is less dramatic than the front, although carrying some modern elements.

The first good impression I had with the Xpander is when closing the door. The sound and feel was pretty nice and not something I had expected from an Indonesian-built car (times have changed). Next is the quality of the interior, which not only looked good, but also felt nice – particularly the leather-wrapped steering wheel (adjustable for reach and rake) and gearshift knob. However, the stitching on the console and door panel aren’t real – they’re made so well you can’t tell the difference by just looking at it.

I liked the cabin of the Xpander, both in terms of styling, space and utility.

There are storage areas, cup/bottle holders, and charging points all around the cabin, while the second- and third-row seats (both with backrest incline adjustment) can be folded in many configurations to increase luggage space.

There’s also a partitioned cargo box to store extra stuff and a drawer under the front passenger seat (also with multiple seatback pockets).

Exciting features include voice command, navigation, 6.2-inch touchscreen, cruise control, DVD/CD/MP3 player, rearview camera, eco drive monitor and scoring system, and more.

The Xpander is propelled by a 1.5-litre MIVEC engine developing 105hp and 141Nm, which may seem small for an MPV capable of carrying seven people. The four-speed automatic transmission is smooth and well-calibrated, giving the Xpander good acceleration.

The suspension, struts up front and rear torsion beam, soaks up shocks and vibration pretty well (again exceeding my expectations), and only when the going gets really tough would it start to show weaknesses.

The confidence level on the highway remains high for a small minivan, and cruising at 120kph is quite comfortable. But go above that and the Xpander starts to feel floaty and out of place.

Driving it in the city, on the other hand, is easy, thanks to the narrow 5.2-metre turning radius. Cornering isn’t too bad for a lanky MPV, with the front strut bar offering increased steering precision. Meanwhile, the ground clearance is 205mm, which allows it to pass through poor road conditions in the countryside comfortably.

There are plenty of driver-assistance systems such as Active Stability Control (ASC), Traction Control and Hill Start Assist. All seven occupants get three-point safety belts, which is great, but there are airbags only for the front occupants. Considering it’s your children and other family members who will be on the second- and third-row seats (there are two ISOFIX child seat anchors), in my point of view additional side airbags should be offered, at least as optional extras.

Mitsubishi is on its way to win a large number of customers with the Xpander – not only in the big cities, but also in the countryside where there is a large population of big families. It comes fully loaded with features and carries a good level of quality that is hard to find in regional vehicles.

Mitsubishi Xpander GT specs

Engine: 4-cylinder DOHC

16-valve

Displacement: 1,499cc

Bore and stroke: 75.0×84.8mm

Compression ratio: 10:1

Max power: 105ps/6,000rpm

Max torque: 141Nm/4,000rpm

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Suspension (f/r): McPherson strut/torsion beam

Steering: powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 10.4 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/drum

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,475

Width: 1,750

Height: 1,700

Wheelbase: 2,775

Track (f/r): 1,520/1,510

Wheels: 16-inch alloy

Tyres: 205/55 R16

Fuel tank capacity: 45 litres

Price: Bt849,000

Distributor: Mitsubishi Motor Thailand Co Ltd

Folger, aged 59, has been with Daimler AG since 1979. His first major role was as key person in the parts organisation department where he supported warehouse relocation for several countries.

He then took care of sales in Indonesia in 1985 as he moved on to the sales department for passenger cars and commercial vehicles in Southeast Asia. He was appointed president and CEO of Daimler-Benz representative office in Singapore between 1988 and 1989.

Folger returned to Daimler AG’s headquarters in 1990 and assumed responsibility for the passenger cars sales function supporting Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. Two years later, he became a personal assistant to the group’s board member for passenger cars sales and marketing.

From the end of 1993 to 1995, Folger was a part of the pioneering team introducing the first M-Class in the United States as vice president for sales, marketing, and after sales.

Later, Folger took a seat at Daimler AG’s global head office again in 1997 where he managed VIP sales, central, special protective vehicles, AMG, technical accessories, and merchandise. He also took part in product management for numerous vehicles including M-Class, R-Class, A-Class, and B-Class.

Folger later joined Mercedes-Benz vans division as head of product management and marketing communication in 2006. In September 2008, he took over the responsibility for worldwide sales of vans.

Prior to his latest position as CEO of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Limited, effective from October 1, 2018, Folger previously assumed responsibility as president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. from 2011 to 2015 and managing director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India from 2015 to September 2018.

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.