Telit
Wireless Solutions, a leading global vendor of
high-quality machine-to-machine (M2M) modules, value-added services and
solutions, today announced it has concluded the acquisition of the
Automotive Telematics On-board unit Platform (ATOP) business from
Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors (Nasdaq:NXPI). ATOP is an
automotive grade solution for vehicle manufacturers to implement eCall
or similar functionality from a single compact and cost efficient
package, delivering reduction in complexity and minimized costs in
vehicle designs, customer data as well as regulatory compliance. The
company at the same time launched Telit Automotive Solutions, a new
business unit which is to focus exclusively on the Automotive OEM and
Tier-one markets. The new organization will be headed up by industry
veteran and long-time Telit executive, Dominikus Hierl as its CEO.
With the acquisition concluded, the company will integrate the ATOP
business including sales, engineering and support staff into Telit
Automotive Solutions, expanding its market reach with solutions
leveraging the expanded engineering and sales expertise particularly in
software-centric RFIs from Automotive and Telematics OEMs. The company
achieved automotive-critical global ISO/TS16949 certification in July
2012 and maintains one of the industry’s largest product portfolios for
the automotive sector with particular emphasis on advanced technologies
such as LTE and HSPA+. Telit has appointed Lars Reger, Head of Chip
Development and General Manager for New Business in NXP’s automotive
business division as a non-executive director of Telit on closing.
Industry analysts position automotive as the strongest growing segment
for M2M over the next few years. According to ABI Research’s report on
the global m2m module market published in May 2013, module shipments to
automotive OEMs will grow from 6 million units in 2013 to 30 million in
2018. Regulatory initiatives like eCall in Europe, ERA GLONASS in
Russia, DENATRAN 245 in Brazil lend further credibility to the strength
of the sector along with the much publicized “connected car” trend which
is likely to lead to 100% penetration of the technology in the very near
future.
“This acquisition will take the ATOP technology to the next level, by
embedding it in a sustainable ecosystem for innovative and high-quality
automotive solutions. We’re confident that our expertise will continue
to grow under Telit’s leadership in combination with continued
cooperation from NXP,” said Lars Reger. “NXP will stay highly involved
in the future of ATOP by becoming a shareholder in Telit and joining the
company’s board.”
“The acquisition of ATOP is the catalyst for building a dedicated
Automotive business unit to better address Automotive opportunities and
execute our strategy to become the market leader in this segment,“ said
Telit CEO Oozi Cats. “The ATOP team is talented and enthusiastic to join
Telit. Their expertise will be leveraged by positioning their top
managers in significant roles within the new Telit Automotive
organization.”
“Together with a significant customer base, ATOP brings additional
expertise in automotive platforms to compliment our already thriving
automotive business,“ said Dominikus Hierl, CEO of the new Telit
Automotive Solutions. “The multi-service capable platform provides
support for a range of features from its single package, including
vehicle location & tracking, remote starting and diagnostics as well as
business applications like fleet management.“
Copyright Business Wire 2014