The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has revealed the Region II (Asia-Pacific) Champions of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2026, celebrating the projects that are driving mobility solutions across the Asia-Pacific Region. 

Announced as Region II Champions at the FIA Asia-Pacific Congress in Boracay, Philippines, were FIA Member Clubs: 

• Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV, Australia; Member of the Australian Automobile Association) for ‘Asure eCall’, an integrated technology which automatically triggers an emergency call after a crash. 

• Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC, Sri Lanka) for ‘AAC Mobility Lifeline’, which transformed it’s 24-hour call centre into a national mobility coordination hub in response to Cyclone Ditwah. 

• AAC received a second award for its ‘Solar-Guard’ LED blinker system, giving drivers advanced warning about potential hazards at high-risk locations. 

Now in its third year, the FIA Innovation Challenge has seen Member Clubs throughout Region II reinforcing their commitment to supporting individuals and businesses with solutions for safer, more sustainable, and more affordable mobility.  

Intelematics and its parent organisation, the RACV, are leveraging the technology of connected vehicles to trigger rapid emergency calls and responses in the event of a crash, while the AAC has showcased how working with its mobility partners supported national resilience and recovery following Cyclone Ditwah. The AAC is also proactively preventing crashes with a solar-powered early-warning system. 

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA said: “Congratulations to all our Region II Champions and thank you to every Member Club who has continued innovating for road users across the Asia-Pacific Region. 

“The projects submitted this year have highlighted the real difference our Clubs can make in times of crisis and how constant innovation is helping us to reduce the risk of crashes and save lives on the road.” 

Tim Shearman, FIA Deputy President for Automobile Mobility and Tourism said: “We are a global network, but it’s the local knowledge of our Mobility Clubs that helps us meet the unique needs of road users everywhere.  

“Innovation in mobility is how we improve the lives of road users, and our Region II Champions have embodied that spirit and showcased new solutions that can make a difference locally and across the FIA Network.” 

Augustus ‘Joe’ Ferreria, FIA Region II President said: “Mobility in FIA Region II is diverse and unique and complex, and so are our challenges, so our Mobility Clubs have to work hard to ensure they are always there for the road users they support. 

“Our Region has seen the devastating consequences of extreme weather and dangerous roads, and I am so proud to see how these projects have put our Mobility Clubs at the heart of the solution for everyone on the road.” 

The FIA Innovation Challenge is an annual contest promoting and celebrating impactful and scalable business and services projects from Member Clubs in the four global Mobility Regions across the FIA Network (Asia Pacific / Europe, Middle East and Africa / North America / South and Central America).  

Three champions will be selected from each of the four Mobility Regions, with a global judging panel selecting one Global Winner from each Region, who will receive their awards at the FIA General Assemblies week in Shanghai, China, in December.  

The Winning Submissions: 

Before the Sirens | Reimagining Connected Crash Response (RACV, Australia) 

Roads in Australia present unique challenges where crashes may occur in remote locations, dangerous environments, and may be hours from the nearest ambulance. Intelematics and its parent organisation, the RACV, have developed the ‘Asure’ connected vehicle platform to trigger an immediate response from connected vehicles when a crash occurs, even if the occupants are unconscious. By automatically transmitting a call with critical data to trained call centre staff, Asure allows for rapid assessment and engagement with emergency services. Intelematics has now expanded Asure into the New Zealand market and supports over 1 million vehicles. 

Rob Finney, General Manager, Intelematics said: “Being involved in a crash is one of the most frightening and dangerous situations a person can experience. Add to that being potentially hundreds of kilometres away from help and unable to make a call, and you have a scary scenario that unfortunately some road users have faced on our regional roads.  

“We built Asure so the call for help starts the moment a crash happens, not when someone happens to drive past. Our agents have the crash data within seconds and get it to emergency services quickly and accurately, so help can be on its way sooner. Being recognised by the FIA is a proud moment for our team and the partners who helped shape this platform.” 

AAC Mobility Lifeline | Beyond the Call of Duty (AAC, Sri Lanka) 

Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka in November 2025, causing major disruption for mobility across the country. In response, the AAC activated ‘AAC Mobility’, transforming its 24-hour call centre into a national mobility coordination hub. With a 200% increase in emergency calls, the AAC guided road users, rescue services and evacuees through flooded roads and landslides to safety. Alongside 60 staff, over 135 volunteers, and 50 vehicles, the AAC also mobilised its network of more than 160 accredited garages, demonstrating the importance of local partnerships to support nationwide resilience and recovery during a crisis. As part of its ongoing efforts, AAC has contributed Rs. 25 million to the President’s Fund to support the Government Policy on “Clean Sri Lanka” towards those affected by Cyclone Ditwah. 

Dhammika Attygalle, President of the AAC said: “Extreme weather events are becoming more common, creating uncertainty and increasing risks for road users. So having a network ready to respond when they need us most is vital. 

“Cyclone Ditwah showcased the vulnerability of our roads to extreme weather but also demonstrated the power of our partnerships in Sri Lanka. Our people and our community are the driving force behind AAC Mobility Lifeline and our road to recovery.”  

Solar-Guard Road Safety Blinking System | Flash to Stop the Crash (AAC, Sri Lanka) 

Sharp bends and hilly terrain coupled with limited visibility and delayed reaction time make Sri Lanka’s highways the site of frequent crashes. To proactively reduce these risks, the AAC, in collaboration with the Road Development Authority, created a solar-powered advanced-warning system, introducing LED blinker lights to high-risk areas. With 24-hour, autonomous visual alerts improving driver awareness, the ‘Solar-Guard’ system is reducing crashes while operating sustainably without dependence on the grid. 

Dhammika Attygalle, President of the AAC said: “Limited visibility on hazardous roads puts drivers at increased risk of being involved in a crash, so finding ways to proactively prevent these incidents from occurring in the first place is essential for protecting road users. 

“Through this solar-powered system, we have implemented a sustainable solution to increase visibility for road users in hazardous areas at all times to reduce crashes and save lives.”  

-ENDS-  

For media enquiries please contact:  

• George Mitchell, Mobility Communications Officer: gmitchell@fia.com  

• Laure Mercier Roussel, Head of Mobility Communications: lmercier@fia.com  

About the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile    

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.    

Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 246 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including six FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.