Tweddle Group to Significantly Expand Its Vehicle Relationship Management Services, Divests Connected Vehicle Platform Business

DETROIT--June 5, 2013: Tweddle Group, a market-leading global automotive technology firm, today announced a move that enables the organization to focus substantially more resources on managing relationships among vehicle owners, dealers and automakers and on bringing significant advancements to the connected services marketplace.

As an initial step in growing its vehicle relationship management (VRM) solutions, Tweddle has sold its Tweddle Connect business -- the connected services platform that directly manages and delivers content and services to vehicles--to Nuance Communications, Inc.

Following the sale of its connected services platform, Tweddle will capitalize on its more than 60 years of experience in managing communications and aftersales support for OEMs, dealers and consumers to concentrate on major expansions of its VRM content and services. Tweddle's VRM services will support automakers with content and services delivered through the content delivery business acquired by Nuance, as well as a range of other third-party connected vehicle platforms.

"Tweddle will focus its investment in its VRM content and services to bring significant new value to OEMs and their dealers," said Chief Executive Officer Andy Tweddle, "Through exciting innovations enhancing the owner's experience after the sale of a vehicle and the ability of the OEM and dealer to provide remote technical support to vehicles in the field. Tweddle is distinctly positioned to create and deliver these advancements in automotive after-sales based on its unique set of relationships with OEMs, Tier 1 automotive suppliers and telematics providers."

Tweddle will continue to build its expertise in automotive information services based on its many decades of pioneering technology and understanding the business, financial drivers and opportunities for new-sector growth among its OEM customers. With an evolving set of expanded solutions, Tweddle will advance its ability to service dealerships, OEMs and their customers.

"Our focus on innovative relationship management solutions for both vehicles and customers demands the kind of technology strength and deep understanding of vehicle information systems only available through Tweddle," said Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Bill Koch. "By shaping the services that connect the loop encircling the OEM, dealer, vehicle and owner, we will ensure automakers and dealers have the information they need to serve consumers fully and that owners have the information they require to get full value from their vehicle."

Today a significant number of the world's automakers rely on Tweddle for services, and those companies will see a rapid development of extended services from Tweddle in terms of synchronizing onboard and off-board information, transmitting and updating VIN-specific information, and automating new relationship-management solutions. Tweddle will work closely with Nuance and other partners for connected car deployments.