Masternaut acquired by Michelin

Scoop at the Connected Fleets Conference.

UK-based vehicle tracking provider Masternaut, in business for 22 years, announced today the company’s acquisition by tyre giant Michelin. More details of the acquisitions are not yet disclosed, but it has been confirmed that the Masternaut will be part of the Service and Solution business division

Michelin already ventured in the telematics business and sees clear synergies with its core business

• speed up the development of its Services & Solutions business for light vehicles and support the booming fleet market;
• enable Masternaut to roll out its offering across the whole of Europe by taking advantage of the Michelin network's geographical coverage;
• increase the volume of data captured, allowing it to offer its customers the best solutions, improve product performance and develop its data science deployments, such as predictive maintenance.

This acquisition is reminiscent of TomTom being purchased by Bridgestone earlier this year and, more generically, of an increased interest of the automotive industry in telematics.