Michelin Moves Into Telematics with NexTraq Acquisition

Michelin's NexTraq acquistion of NexTraq will enhance the company's solutions for driver safety, fuel management and enhancing fleet productivity. Photo: Michelin

Michelin has been an automotive technology leader for over a century, and now the tire manufacturer is moving into telematics with its acquisition of NexTraq, a U.S. provider of commercial fleet communications systems, announced today.

Based in the Atlanta area, NexTraq is a subsidiary of FleetCor Technologies, a global provider of fuel cards and workforce payment products.

NexTraq provides solutions for driver safety, fuel management and enhancing fleet productivity. Since its inception in 2000, NexTraq has become a leading provider of GPS fleet management solutions for fleets of small commercial vehicles (classes 3‒5) ranging from two to 50 vehicles.

“Telematics and fleet management services are a rapidly growing category worldwide and an important area of Michelin Group's overall business plans,” said Ralph Dimenna, chief operating officer for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, the heavy truck unit of Michelin North America. “NexTraq represents a strategic acquisition that accelerates our growth in telematics with synergies that increase our scale, expand our geographic footprint and strengthen overall competitiveness in fleet management technology and services in the United States.”

NexTraq has 117 employees, approximately 7,000 fleet customers, and 116,000 individual subscribers. The unit will operate independently within Michelin North America.

“NexTraq has technology that, among other capabilities, monitors reckless driving and stops texting while driving. This capability is an excellent cultural fit with Michelin's purpose and long-standing commitment to road safety,” Dimenna said.

The closing of the acquisition is subject to completion of certain customary conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Related: Michelin Taking Long View of Sustainable Transportation

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

‘It was basically a killing field’: Congressmen recount ‘deliberate attack’ on elected officials at a baseball practice

House Majority Whip Steven Scalise was one of several people injured in a shooting Wednesday...

Nintendo Reveals New Games for Switch

Jun.13 -- June 14 (Bloomberg) –- Nintendo announced a slate of new titles for its new hybrid console Switch. The announcement was made at the industry's annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Bloomberg's Pavel Alpeyev reports on "Bloomberg Markets: Asia."

Jack Ma’s Libertarian Talk Approaches Red Line

Is Alibaba's founder playing with fire or toeing the line?

Michelin to buy telematics provider NexTraq

Global tire maker Michelin has agreed to acquire NexTraq, a U.S. provider of commercial fleet telematics services, from its parent company, FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc., in an all-cash transaction.

“Telematics and fleet management services are a rapidly growing category worldwide and an important area of Michelin Group's overall business plans,” said Ralph Dimenna, COO for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, the heavy truck unit of Michelin North America, in a statement.

read more

New aftermarket collision avoidance system unveiled

A new radar-based collision mitigation system being rolled out by Safe Drive Systems (SDS), called the read more

Michelin to launch new regional drive tire

MONTREAL, QUE. Michelin is getting ready to launch a new regional drive tire on July 1 that it expects will trump its previous regional drive tires and be more in line with what fleets want.

Ralph Dimenna, COO of Michelin Americas, truck tires, told Fleet Owner during Michelin's Movin On mobile sustainability event in Montreal that the new regional drive tire is an effort to reclaim some share in a part of the market where it hasn't quite delivered the optimal product for fleets.

read more