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About Trafficmaster

Company History

2007 - 2010

  • 2010
    On 29th July 2010 Trafficmaster was acquired by Vector Capital and was de-listed from the London Stock Exchange.
    Signed 4 year contract with Sainsbury’s supermarket group to supply Smartnav on all home delivery fleet vehicles.
    Signed 3 year Jaguar/ Land Rover SVT Contract    
    Renewed the BMW Trackstar Contract for a further two years
  • 2009
    Acquired FMS in the US providing unique fleet satellite cover in unmapped regions of the world
  • 2008
    Acquired Eurowatch providing SVT service in 45 countries
    Signed 3 year BMW Stolen Vehicle Tracking Contract – Largest Prestige Manufacturer contract in UK 
  • 2007
    Trafficmaster launched its comprehensive fleet management and GPS tracking service, Fleet Director, in the UK.
    Signed ground breaking telematics agreement with Citroen UK for fitment on all their major van models

2004 - 2006

  • 2006
    Smartnav gets it's first standard fit: Subaru's new super car, the Impreza WRX STI spec. D is fitted as standard with Smartnav.
    Pay as You Drive Insurance developed with Norwich Union
    Vehicle diagnostics and hours of services launched with Ryder
  • 2005
    Chevrolet approves Smartnav as an accessory across all models and Smartnav is fitted as standard on the Chevrolet Lacetti 1.8 CDX saloon.
    Trafficmaster wins RDS TMC contracts with Honda, Audi, Siemens VDO Dayton, Navigon, Garmin and Alpine. 
    In a joint partnership between Trafficmaster and Transport for London, comprehensive traffic data across the whole of capital is made available to London drivers.  
    Trafficmaster appoints new Chief Executive - Tony Eales replaces Stuart Berman as Chief Executive of Trafficmaster plc and continues to run the Teletrac operation in the US. 
    Volkswagen adds Smartnav to its approved accessory list: Smartnav is available on the Passat, Golf and Golf+ models as an approved accessory.

  • 2004 
    Trafficmaster launches RDS-TMC (Radio Data System-Traffic Message Channel) to provide drivers with accurate real time traffic flow data via a standard-fit or optional on-board navigation system
    Trafficmaster acquires satellite navigation company Yeoman Group PLC
    Smartnav is approved by a further twelve automotive manufacturers including Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, MINI, Kia, Nissan, Ford, Subaru & Isuzu, Suzuki, Fiat & Alfa Romeo and GM Daewoo
    Smartnav announces partnerships with motor dealership groups Sytner, Pendragon, Hartwell and Lancaster to expand sales channels
    MG Rover is the first manufacturer to fit Smartnav on the production line for the Rover 75 model
    Smartnav launches Touch Screen, a feature rich LCD visual display designed specifically for drivers who would appreciate the comfort of visual instructions to accompany Smartnav's spoken directions
    Smartnav is awarded with Auto Express' Satellite Navigation System 2004: Tested against all leading after market satellite navigation systems, Smartnav wins consumer magazine, Auto Express'' Best Satellite Navigation System 2004
    Trafficmaster appoints new chief executive: Founder of Trafficmaster, David Martell, retires from his position as Chief Executive and appoints Stuart Berman. 

2001 - 2003

  • 2003 
    February - Hyundai fits Smartnav as standard on its Sonata V6
    May - Smartnav wins Auto Express' Car Accessory of the Year
    July - Chrysler & Jeep selects Smartnav as its approved satellite navigation option
    July - Mitsubishi selects Smartnav as its approved satellite navigation option
    August - Lex Vehicle Leasing fits Smartnav to new and existing company cars
    August - Which? report announces Smartnav as Best Buy
    September - Mazda selects Smartnav as its approved satellite navigation option
    September - Citroen selects Smartnav as its approved satellite navigation option
    September - Mitsubishi fits Smartnav as standard on its Shogan Warrior
    October - MG Rover selects Smartnav as its approved satellite navigation option
    November - Subaru & Isuzu select Smartnav as its approved satellite navigation option
    Trackstar also proved successful in 2003 and became an approved accessory on the Nissan and Mazda ranges
  • 2002
    Smartnav launch     - the first any-car system to combine satellite navigation with live, historic, forecast and incident based traffic information and a personal assistant to answer questions and even take orders for flowers and champagne. Smartnav also offers 24-hour security in the event of a breakdown or emergency and a personal assistant to offer routes to banks, restaurants, hotels and points of interest such as tourist attractions.
    BMW Messenger - In October 2002, BMW announced the market introduction of Messenger, a location based traffic warning device. It is available as an approved option fitment on all new BMW and Mini models and as an approved accessory for existing customers.
    MG Rover - In October 2002, Trafficmaster reached an agreement with MG Rover to provide its customers with Trafficmaster Clock Alert. The Clock Alert provides drivers with traffic congestion warnings on roads to within a 20 mile radius of the vehicle. Trafficmaster Clock Alert is fitted as standard to all 2003 built 25 and 45 MG Rover Models.
  • 2001
    Teletrac acquisition - In February 2001, Trafficmaster acquired Teletrac, Inc., a US based telematics company - this was fully approved in May. The USA is the largest and most influential automotive market in the world. It is a market in which telematics is gaining rapidly in visibility as new higher speed mobile data capabilities become available and motor manufacturers develop their telematics programmes.
    New Headquarters - In March, Trafficmaster brought together its group of businesses into a new headquarters building at Cranfield in Bedfordshire.
    Trafficmaster Monitor was launched in August 2001. This in-car full colour screen unit provides delay information at points of congestion on a scrolling map covering over 8,000 miles of the UK's road network.

1999 - 2000

  • 2000
    Trafficmaster and Motorola further strengthened their existing alliance in February 2000 by collaborating with Blaupunkt in the provision of dynamic traffic information directly onto its satellite navigation systems via GSM - a massive step towards dynamic navigation becoming more widely available. 
    Trafficmaster Europe GmbH was set up in May 2000 and located in Hochheim am Main near Frankfurt.
    Fleetstar Dynamic Fleet Management Package - Trafficmaster sold Fleetstar to Cybit Holdings in February 2002. Fleetstar is a dynamic fleet management information system with the unique addition of Trafficmaster live traffic information. Trafficmaster retains a 10% interest in the business.
    OEM partnerships grow - Trafficmaster continued to develop its relationships with motor manufacturers. At the Birmingham International Motor Show in October it gained three more motor manufacturer relationships with Renault and Mitsubishi (Trackstar) and Land Rover (Monitor).
    Trafficmaster also expanded existing relationships with Citroën designing Trafficmaster Oracle into the new Citroën C5.
    BMW also extended its Monitor programme to cover the whole UK range of saloon and four-wheel drive models.
    The United States of America - Trafficmaster established an office in Detroit, Michigan, USA in anticipation of entering the market with telematics services in metropolitan areas across the country.
  • 1999
    RAC Trafficmaster Telematics - In January Trafficmaster announced a joint venture company with the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) - RAC Trafficmaster Telematics Ltd (RTT). With the combined strengths of the RAC brand and Trafficmaster''s unique technologies, the new company provides a range of services to motor manufacturers, RAC members and other customers.
    Trackstar - The Ultimate Vehicle Security System - Introduction of Trackstar, a GPS based vehicle security system, which instantly pinpoints the exact location, speed and direction of a stolen vehicle.
    AA Traffic Data Direct Feed - In 1999, the Automobile Association (AA), signed an agreement with Trafficmaster to take an exclusive feed of raw data direct from its nationwide network of sensors and transmitters.
    Dynamic Navigation - In September 1999, Motorola signed an agreement with Trafficmaster to supply the GSM mobile receiver system, used to deliver dynamic traffic information direct to satellite navigation systems. This was the first step in the development of Smartnav, Trafficmaster's easy to use, advanced satellite navigation system. This partnership brings together the leaders in their fields to deliver a combination of high quality traffic and navigation information to the driver.

1996 - 1998

  • 1998
    Citroën takes Oracle -     Citroën announced that all Xantia models would be equipped with Trafficmaster Oracle as standard for the UK 1999 Model Year, an association which continued for 7 years with Oracle also fitted in the C5 model.
    New mobile phone services - In July the RAC, in conjunction with Trafficmaster and O2, launched RAC Traffic Alert, which in addition to providing information directly from Trafficmaster''s network of sensors, also provides RAC incident information. The system has since been further developed to enable motorists to dial into any motorway or trunk road in the UK from any location.
    Traffic information services are also available through Vodafone, Virgin's WAP phone traffic information service and Orange.
    Trunk Road Network Added With PTFM - Following further significant investment, Trafficmaster added the UK trunk road network to its sensor coverage in October 1998. Representing a three-fold increase in route mileage, the result is that some 8,000 miles of British roads are now monitored on a 24-hour basis.
    A new sensor technology was developed for these trunk routes - Passive Target Flow Measurement (PTFM). Using digital video-based technology, the sensor captures the centre four digits of a vehicle number plate and converts them to an electronic ''tag''. This tag is then followed along the road, from sensor to sensor enabling the time to travel a known distance to be computed.
  • 1997
    First live traffic information, available via GSM cellular telephone -     In July Trafficmaster signed a contract in the UK with Cellnet, now O2, to provide the first live traffic information service in the world via GSM telephone. The focus of this service was the transmission of ''cell specific'' traffic information into the cellular network, which enables the user to receive traffic information within their location.
  • 1996
    Oracle     - The First OEM Product - In January, Trafficmaster's live traffic information became available on the Vauxhall Motors web site. In April, the company launched its first product for an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Trafficmaster Oracle, which came as standard on all Vectra models in the UK market and was subsequently added to the Vauxhall Omega range.
    Twenty-five year licence granted by Department for Transport, covering England, Scotland and Wales. This includes motorway infra-red sensors and Passive Target Flow Measurement sensors on trunk roads. 
    BMW was the first car manufacturer to realise the benefits to its customers of having traffic information available on their in-car information screens and introduced BMW Monitor.

1988 - 1995

  • 1995
    New products available -     Trafficmaster launched the first screen-based product delivering nationwide traffic information - Trafficmaster YQ and its OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version - Trafficmaster Monitor.
    Scottish licence granted - Local broadcast facility introduced supported by Trafficmaster receivers
  • 1994
    Floatation Completed - Trafficmaster floated on the London Stock Exchange
    UK Motorways covered - The national motorway sensor network was completed.
  • 1992
    12 year Licence Granted -     After successful evaluation of the pilot system by the Department of Transport, a 12-year licence was granted covering all motorways and trunk roads in England.
  • 1990
    Pilot Scheme -     In May, the Department of Transport granted a licence for Trafficmaster to install a pilot traffic detection scheme, which was launched in September on the M25 and other London area motorways.
  • 1988
    Company formed and embarked upon development of prototype traffic detection technologies

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