Christian Wiedmann, group president, said: “This year marks the 20th anniversary of BMW ConnectedDrive, and we are ceaselessly driving forward our international standing as a pioneer in the field of digital development.

“Our seamless services are designed to redefine the very concept of mobility in a way that best benefits the customer.”

The firm said its BMW Connected app currently has more than 2.3 million users and over 10 million connected BMW vehicles in 45 countries.

“With the launch of new features for BMW ConnectedDrive in Thailand, we are driving forward the transformation of the automotive mobility in the country,” Wiedmann said.

No one was in the patrol car when the collision took place in the late morning, the Laguna Beach Police Department said in a message posted along with photos on Twitter.

“When using Autopilot, drivers are continuously reminded of their responsibility to keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of the vehicle at all times,” a Tesla spokeswoman said in response to an AFP inquiry.

“Tesla has always been clear that Autopilot doesn’t make the car impervious to all accidents.”

Responses to the police department Twitter post ranged from thoughtful analysis of the accident to mistrust of self-driving cars.

“For automation to learn from mistakes, their developers need to admit making them,” read a comment tweeted from the account of @SafeSelfDrive.

“Human error behind the wheel has been replaced with human error behind keyboard.”

Tesla chief Elon Musk complained in a recent earnings call that accidents involving self-driving cars get sensational headlines while the potential for the technology to save lives is downplayed or ignored.

Whether an Autopilot feature was engaged when a Model S collided with the rear of a stopped fire truck in the US state of Utah on May 11 remained to be confirmed.

According to local media, police said the woman at the wheel of the car claimed it was in a self-driving mode and that her attention was on her phone.

“It’s super messed up that a Tesla crash resulting in a broken ankle is front page news and the (approximately) 40,000 people who died in US auto accidents alone in past year get almost no coverage,” Musk said in a tweet in mid-May.

“What’s actually amazing about this accident is that a Model S hit a fire truck at 60mph (96 kmh) and the driver only broke an ankle.”

Among accidents to make headlines was a fiery March crash in California that involved its “Autopilot” feature.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident, which led to the death of a 38-year-old father of two, Walter Huang.

Huang’s hands were “not detected on the wheel for six seconds prior to the collision,” Tesla said in a blog post.

Uber put a temporary halt to its self-driving car program in the US after a March accident in Arizona that resulted in the death of woman pushing a bicycle in a street.

Harley-Davidson’s dealership in Ubon Ratchathani is the latest Harley showroom and service centre in Thailand.

It is operated by US Motorbike, a subsidiary of Master Group Corp (MGC-Asia), and gives Harley a total of nine dealers in the country.

The company announced last year that it was building an assembly plant in Rayong province in a move to expand its presence in the Asia Pacific region.

Nissan is the only major Japanese auto producer to not offer a PPV (Pickup Passenger Vehicle) in Thailand, despite using the country as the production base for its Navara 1-ton pickup truck.

But the good news is that after years of declining the chance to offer one, Nissan has finally decided to design and produce a PPV based on the Navara – the Terra.

Unfortunately, the Terra isn’t made in Thailand at the moment, with the first model being launched in China. Nissan Motor Thailand president Antoine Barthes told Thai media earlier this month that the Terra will be officially introduced later this year, and will play an important part in helping Nissan increase sales here, along with the Leaf EV, which is also yet to be launched despite the announcement being made over six months ago.

So for now, Nissan’s top model from its Navara platform is the Double Cab 4WD VL priced at Bt1.09 million.

For the 2018 model year, Nissan has upgraded the Navara lineup with the addition of an all-around view monitor system with tiny screens embedded within the rearview mirror. The picture quality and graphics are good, and it’s easy to flick your eyes to that area, but the screen is pretty small and is no match for larger console-mounted monitors.

The Navara is Nissan’s 12th-generation pickup (the company has been producing pickup trucks for a very long time and was even the market leader in Thailand during the 1970s). But since the launch of the current generation in 2014, the Navara had never really made its presence felt in the Thai market, managing to claim less than a 5-per-cent share in the Thai 1-ton pickup market this year.

From my point of view, the sales performance of the Navara doesn’t really reflect what the truck has to offer. After driving it for a few days, I started to like the Navara for many reasons.

Nissan engineers have put a lot of thought into the interior, which offers a good level of comfort and space, while the quality of the materials (or even the upholstery stitching) reminds you of passenger cars rather than pickups. The top model I drove came with a total of seven airbags (including a driver knee airbag).

The 190-hp 2.5-litre turbo diesel provides the Navara with 450Nm of torque, giving it plenty of pulling power. Just feed the gas and the 7-speed automatic transmission takes care of picking the best shift points.

There is a shift-on-the-fly function for the 4-wheel-drive system transfer case, allowing drivers to select 2- and 4-wheel-drive without having to stop the vehicle. A limited slip differential (LSD) helps maximise off-road capability, while Hill Start Assist (HAC) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) helps lower drama when going up or down steep inclines.

On the road, the Navara offers decent handling with a good degree of maneuverability, considering it is a 2-ton truck. The steering is beefy and precise for pickup standards (thanks to the double-wishbone front suspension and stabiliser), and the ride is really smooth despite using leaf springs at the rear.

The surprise came when driving over really poor roads with multiple potholes and large cracks, as the Navara’s suspension not only absorbed the shocks and vibrations effectively, but also very quietly. I was expecting loud noises from underneath the Navara, but it exceeded my expectations.

There is bad news, unfortunately.

While the retail pricing of the Navara Double Cab 4×4 VL was below the Bt1 million mark when

it was first launched (Bt996,000) four years ago, it has climbed over the fence and now costs Bt1.09 million (approximately 10 per cent higher).

With the Terra scheduled for a launch soon, potential double-cab buyers might also find themselves looking at the PPV too, if the price gap isn’t too wide.

Nissan Navara Double Cab 4×4

Engine: 4-cylinder

DOHC 16-valve: VGS Turbo Intercooler

Displacement: 2,488cc

Bore and stroke: 89x100mm

Compression ratio: 15:1

Max power: 190hp/3,600rpm

Max torque: 450Nm/2,000rpm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic

Ratios: 4.887/3.170/2.027/1.4102/1.000/0.864/0.775

Final drive ratio: 3.357

Suspension (f/r): double wishbone, stabiliser bar/multi-leaf springs, shock absorbers

Steering: power rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 12.4 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/drum

Length: 5,255mm

Width: 1,850mm

Height: 1,820mm

Wheelbase: 3.150mm

Track (f/r): 1,570/1,570

Weight: 1,960kg

Wheels: 18×7 alloys

Tyres: 255/60R18

Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres

Price: Bt1.09 million

Distributor: Nissan Motor Thailand

Of those, 29,888 were cars while 49,318 were commercial vehicles, an increase of 30.6 per cent compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont, executive vice president at Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd, said auto companies participating in the Bangkok International Motor Show that ended in early April launched a large number of new models and sales promotions.

“The new models introduced gained popularity, while other contributing factors include improvements in Thailand’s exports and agricultural product prices,” he said.

Meanwhile from January to April, auto sales in the kingdom reached 316,299 vehicles, growing by 15.5 per cent.

The car market expanded by 13.3 per cent during this period, Vudhigorn said, while commercial vehicles experienced a 16.9-per-cent growth.

“Thailand’s economy has seen improvement both in exports and tourism, and the large number of new automobile models plus sales promotions from the start of the year has served as contributing factors to the market growth,” he added.

Vudhigorn said auto sales in May are expected to continue rising.

According to Vudhigorn, Thailand’s economy is improving continuously, while automakers and finance companies are offering attractive sales packages that help consumers make quicker purchase decisions.

“And although part of the consumer groups are concerned about the political situation in Thailand and overseas, there has been little effect on the automobile market,” he said.

During the first four months of 2018, Toyota was the top-selling brand with an aggregate of 87,502 vehicles, an increase of 14.2 per cent, followed by rivals Isuzu and Honda with 59,080 and 38,869 respectively.

While Toyota also leads the car market with four-month sales of 33,463 vehicles, up 8.7 per cent, it has yet to catch up with Isuzu in the commercial vehicle market. From January to April, Isuzu sold 59,080 commercial vehicles, marking a 9.8-per-cent growth.

Toyota, enjoying a 17.9-per-cent growth during this period, trails by more than 5,000 vehicles with 54,039 sales.

The AAS Body and Paint Centre of Excellence, a 2,500sqm plant with 50 mechanics on Vibhavadee-Rangsit Road near Don Muang International Airport, is now authorised to service Porsche, Bentley, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, company executives said.

The centre specialises in aluminium, carbon fibre and steel body repairs, and also features a modern paint shop, plus the latest diagnostics equipment.

The other two models tested since March, the Toyota Rush and Hyundai IONIC Hybrid, also earned five-star crash ratings.

The assessment looks at adult and child safety, impacts from all directions and other safety features.

Limited to only 100 vehicles, the H1 Touring also features leather upholstery and 16-inch “hyper-silver” alloy wheels.

The price has been set at Bt1.349 million.

Stating only that the Leaf will be launched “within fiscal year 2018” (ending in March next year), Nissan has already exhibited its latest electric vehicle (EV) at two major motor shows – the Thailand International Motor Expo in December last year and the Bangkok International Motor Show last month.

Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co Ltd (NMT) president Antoine Barthes told Thai media at the company’s mid-term press conference yesterday that Nissan is trying to educate not only its own customers but also the general public about the EV technology and lifestyle, before the official market launch of the Leaf.

Asked whether Nissan is waiting for the right timing and market environment, Barthes agreed, saying that Nissan has been working hard in educating the public about EVs at the two motor shows. The company has received a promising response from prospective customers, he said.

He said many Thai consumers are willing to purchase an EV, even at higher retail costs than comparative models running on traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs).

“According to a regional survey on EVs by Frost and Sullivan that includes Thailand, as much as 44 per cent of Thais interviewed said they are willing to consider purchasing an EV even if the retail price is 50 per cent higher than conventional ICE vehicles,” he said.

Nissan is working hard to grow its market share in Thailand, after being knocked from the No 3 position by Mazda – a much smaller automaker that has enjoyed tremendous growth in recent years thanks to highly attractive products – in the passenger car market.

But after being lambasted by Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi chairman Carlos Ghosn during a visit to Thailand in April last year as being “not good enough” in its performance, NMT lost little time in clawing back 1.3 percentage points of market share to finish 2017 with a 6.9 per cent share.

Barthes said that in the mid term, Nissan wants to raise its market share to figures in the double digits.

Significant growth is expected later this year with the planned introduction of the Terra, a PPV (pickup passenger vehicle) based on the Navara 1-ton pickup truck. Nissan and Mazda were the only major pickup producers in Thailand to not offer a PPV model, and over the years its executives had always denied any plans to build one.

But the Terra project has finally come to life, with the PPV launched in China this year. Thailand, already the global production centre of the Navara, automatically qualifies as a production and export site of the Terra.

Production of the Terra is expected to help drive up Nissan’s total output in Thailand. Barthes said Nissan will increase its production in Thailand this year by 23 per cent, but did not specify from which model range.

Barthes said Nissan expects the Thai auto market to grow at an average of 5 per cent a year over the next five years, with 950,000 vehicles to be sold in fiscal 2018 (April 2018 to March 2019).

The BMW Certified Body and Paint Centre at Barcelona Motor Bang Khae is equipped with 22 mechanical bays including four heavy-duty bays (body repairs), 11 light-duty bays, three assembly bays, four polishing bays, and three spray booths using the water-based BMW ColorSystem paint.

With more than 20 years in the business, Barcelona Motor is now operating 3 BMW showrooms and one-stop service centers in Vibhavadi Rangsit, Bang Khae, and Chiang Mai, as well as 3 BMW Studios in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mahachai, Samut Sakhon. The latest facility in Bangkok offers extensive services to cater to every customer’s needs, ranging from fast and convenient services from certified mechanics, repair stations that can support up to 300 vehicles per month, reliable services using original BMW Parts, to a slide-on tow service in emergencies and a courtesy car while waiting for repairs to be completed.