Newcastle’s Realsafe Technologies is preparing to embark on the next phase of its international expansion after announcing that its motorcycle safety app will be rolled out across Malaysia.
The RealRider app helps protect motorcyclists by detecting whether the rider has been involved in a crash before alerting the emergency services to their location.
The app already is available in the UK and Canada but will soon be rolled out across South East Asia.
RealRider will hit the market in Malaysia during the first quarter of 2018, after Realsafe struck a deal with telematics company VTOS.
VTOS has links with Malaysia’s Emergency Response System, and the new deal will mean RealRider will be the first app of its kind to be connected to the emergency services in South East Asia.
Zoe Farrington, CEO of Realsafe Technologies, said: “Working with VTOS is an exciting new chapter for the company that sees us realise aspirations for growth in new territories.
“We have been defining and refining plans with VTOS for several months and are confident that with their proven track record and contacts in the industry our partnership will be mutually beneficial while providing much needed protection for vulnerable riders.”
Malaysia will be the first step in Realsafe Technologies’ Asian expansion but following the initial roll out the firm intends to take its product to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. This expansion is expected to take place within the next 24 to 36 months.
Realsafe kicked off its expansion plans earlier this year when the firm launched its app in Canada. The company is backed by Canada’s 911 emergency services.
Asia represents a huge potential market for the RealRider app. There are estimated to be 11 million motorcyclists in Malaysia and a further 135 million across South East Asia.
But as well as having a huge motorcycle market, Malaysia also suffers from one of the worst road safety records in the world.
VTOS co-founder and CEO, Phooi Hong Wong, said: “Malaysia continues to be ranked among the countries with the highest road fatalities in the world – and sadly among motorcyclists.
“A major factor is the delay in getting proper emergency medical care to the riders. And a contributing factor is establishing with reliability that an accident did occur and exactly where it occurred.
“The RealRider app offers reliability and UK government certification meaning the timing is right for us to partner with Realsafe Technologies to offer a holistic safety solution for riders backed by the insurers and government agencies in Malaysia.”
