Flexcar and Vetronix Ink Long-Term Strategic Partnership Agreement for Telematics
SEATTLE & SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--Jan. 20, 2003--Flexcar and Vetronix today announced the signing of a long-term strategic partnership for use of Vetronix's Mastertrak Fleet telematics solution in Flexcar's national car-sharing program. The agreement will provide a complete telematics solution to Flexcar including in-vehicle telematics control units (TCUs), wireless communication services, data services, and a customized suite of Internet-based business applications. The technology will improve the customer experience by making it easier to use the service while simultaneously streamlining the company's reporting and information system. The devices have been installed in Flexcar vehicles in the Seattle, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas.
Flexcar's innovative program provides members with access to a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles, including gas-electric hybrids and electric cars, located throughout selected U.S. metropolitan areas. Members reserve the vehicles for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance. Members pay an hourly or monthly rate for use of the vehicles.
Flexcar members are now issued a magnetic card that is encrypted with their member identification number. They swipe the card over the rear window of a Flexcar vehicle, and the Vetronix system opens the door locks upon confirmation that the card belongs to a valid user. Once inside the vehicle, a keypad device accepts the customer's unique Personal Identification Number (PIN). Based upon entry of a valid PIN, the Vetronix system enables the vehicle ignition system and begins tracking the customer's use of the vehicle by date, time, and mileage.
Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology enables the Flexcar call center to locate the vehicle at any time, allowing Flexcar to immediately know where any vehicle is located, allowing for more efficient fleet management. The telematics solution includes Vetronix's suite of remote diagnostic tools that can detect pending problems and prevent breakdowns, and the system can even unlock the doors remotely if a customer locks his keycard in the vehicle. The revolutionary technology which integrates Flexcar's web-based customer reservation system and Vetronix telematics allows for a completely paper-free process.
David Leonhardt, senior vice president of Flexcar, said, "We evaluated numerous telematics providers and found that while many companies claimed to have solutions, very few were actually delivering the level of commercial grade telematics that our fleet operations required. Vetronix's telematics solutions and technical expertise proved to be head-and-shoulders above the competitive products that we evaluated. We have also been extremely pleased with the responsiveness of their people and the quality of the service we have received."
The companies began work on integrating the Flexcar customer reservation system with the Vetronix telematics system in April 2002. Vetronix designed and delivered a customized solution for remote vehicle security that included a keypad device designed specifically to Flexcar requirements. The fully integrated systems allow customer and reservation data to move from Flexcar systems onto the Vetronix telematics servers and then on to the in-vehicle computers, while trip segment data flows back from the vehicles to the Vetronix servers and then on to the Flexcar system for billing purposes. The fully integrated solution was deployed within six months. This automated system will expedite the billing and reporting process, giving Flexcar near real-time information on vehicle use.
"We are extremely gratified to have been chosen by Flexcar," stated Jim Zaleski, President of Vetronix. "They are a progressive company that is creating a unique new business model designed to improve urban mobility while reducing traffic and pollution -- it's an exciting concept that has a tremendous growth opportunity. The fact that we were able to deliver a fully functional customized solution in six months is a testament to the power of our Mastertrak Fleet Solutions telematics product, and its modular architecture that allows us to quickly tailor the product to the needs of individual fleets."
Flexcar
Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 7,500 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in 5 states and the District of Columbia. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or repairs. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's modern fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, electric cars and specialty vehicles including pickups and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Parsons Transportation Group and American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
Vetronix Corporation
Vetronix currently serves the automotive OEM, fleet, and aftermarket sectors, dominating the OEM diagnostic equipment market with more than 40 percent of all new vehicles at the dealership level worldwide, being serviced using Vetronix's diagnostic products. The company is focused on innovations in software and telemetry behind advanced diagnostics and "next generation" telematics solutions. The company's Mastertrak Fleet Solutions telematics product line is designed to help fleet operators improve profitability with features that include asset management, logistics, service & maintenance, remote diagnostics, fuel management, safety, and security. Through a partnership with IBM, Vetronix also offers integration of its telematics solutions with its client's enterprise business systems.
Mastertrak is a registered trademark of Vetronix Corporation.
