Delphi Product & Service Solutions, in Partnership with Aftermarket Telematics Technologies, Win Inaugural Aftermarket Telematics Challenge

The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) announced today the winner of its first Aftermarket Telematics Challenge at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, Nev. The connected car solution developed by Delphi Product & Service Solutions (DPSS) through an exclusive partnering agreement with Aftermarket Telematics Technologies, LLC (ATT) was chosen based on how the system links consumers to the independent aftermarket service channel, as well as allows for the convergence of telematics technologies with the independent car care and traditional parts distribution models.

AAIA created the Aftermarket Telematics Challenge to identify and recognize the best example of telematics available in the independent aftermarket. The Delphi connected car care solution, powered by ATT’s suite of software solutions, offers consumers the features and benefits of a connected-car experience without the need to buy a new car to obtain OE-embedded telematics technology. By deploying a telematics aftermarket auto care service model, traditional independent garages will be equipped with the same capabilities designed to enable the independent aftermarket service channels to compete with the connected car care technologies supported by the OEM car dealers.

“Delphi with ATT demonstrated a thoroughly executed solution that offers value and benefits to every link in the service chain – from the parts manufacturer to the consumer,” said Scott Luckett, CIO, AAIA. “By integrating the strength of the Delphi library of automotive videos and articles, the solution succeeds in educating the consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance. A knowledgeable and informed consumer is likely to be a better customer of the independent aftermarket.”

“Delphi is honored to have won the AAIA Aftermarket Telematics Challenge,” said Lúcia Veiga Moretti, president, DPSS. “This prize validates the world-class engineering by the creative people at Delphi and underscores our commitment to the success of the independent aftermarket. The web interface to our hardware and service information is provided by our partner, ATT. Their understanding of the customer and the needs of the independent service channel were key ingredients to the success of our solution.”

“As an independent service shop owner, I understand how important it is to stay in regular contact with our customers and their vehicles,” said Jim Dykstra, president, Aftermarket Telematics Technologies. “Vehicle service history in the Cloud and mobile Vehicle Relationship Management (VRM) are key strategies the aftermarket can use to keep our customers satisfied and begin to reduce the amount of unperformed maintenance and service. We are very excited to be partnered with Delphi and to have been chosen for this award.”

The connected car telematics solution is connected to the vehicle through an OBDII plug-in device engineered by Delphi. The device has been successfully road-tested over 50 million miles in tens of thousands of vehicles. ATT provides the vehicle owner and service operator a web interface to view vehicle history and alerts as well as access parts and service information from Delphi.

Representatives of Delphi and ATT will present an overview of the connected car solution at the AAPEX Learning Seminar, “Yes, the Aftermarket CAN do Telematics,” Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 at 7:30 a.m. in the Marco Polo meeting rooms of The Venetian Hotel. Representatives are also available in the Delphi booth at AAPEX during show hours, #5028 in the Sands Expo Center.