Teradyne Diagnostic Solutions Reveals Symptom Based Diagnostic System; Global Automotive Diagnostics Leader Rolls out Revolutionary Diagnostic Product for Ford of Europe

FRANKFURT, Germany--Sept. 5, 2006--TERADYNE DIAGNOSTIC SOLUTIONS , in partnership with the Ford Motor Company, has launched a new product - a Symptom Based Diagnostic System (working title SBD) that will improve the speed and accuracy of vehicle diagnosis and make Ford significant savings on warranty repair costs.

Branded by Ford as the Integrated Diagnostic System, IDS is in the process of being rolled out across all of Ford's European Authorised Repairers, and represents a multi million-Euro investment from the company.

Not to be confused with the simultaneous global launch of an as-yet undisclosed new product at the same venue, Teradyne Diagnostic Solutions will be demonstrating IDS at this year's Automechanika trade show. The demonstration will showcase how the combined hardware, software and IT infrastructure developments will bring benefits to the Authorised Repairer Technicians and save the manufacturer substantial sums of money.

Mark McMahon, Ford Service Diagnostic Operations Manager explains: "The IDS software is installed on the Portable Test Unit (PTU) - a Panasonic CF18 'Toughbook(TM)' laptop - and is fully integrated into the existing Ford ETIS software which is the on-line technical information system used in Ford Authorised Repairer Workshops."

Ian Legate, Teradyne product manager, adds: "Teradyne has worked very closely with Ford to deliver a leading-edge Diagnostic system for the 21st Century.

"The user-friendly system integrates symptom-based diagnostics, technical information (via ETIS) and feedback to guide the technician through the diagnostic and repair processes and allows online approval of warranty repairs. Designed to make full use of wireless connectivity, IDS also reduces diagnosis and repair time by making all the information required by the technician available on the PTU, saving visits from the vehicle to access ETIS and other sources of information currently only available away from the vehicle."

By linking all Authorised Repairers (ARs) to Ford via the Internet, IDS allows immediate online update of the software and allows feedback of a record of every diagnostic session undertaken on every vehicle. This will facilitate much faster identification of field issues and allow suitable fixes to be developed and deployed to the ARs overnight instead of waiting for the next software issue via CD or DVD. This further supports Ford's objective to "fix it right first time".

Teradyne Diagnostic Solutions will be demonstrating IDS at its stand at Automechanika: hall 3.1, walkway B, stand 61 from the 12th September.

Notes to editors: Teradyne Diagnostic Solutions is a leading provider of automotive manufacturing and dealership diagnostic and information solutions. Teradyne equipment is used to test one vehicle every second all over the world, both on the production line and in dealership service areas With over 22 years' experience of global partnerships with many of the world's largest OEM automotive manufacturers, it delivers expert consultation services, technology leading diagnostic products and outstanding service and support.