10/7/2003 9:46:00 AM
New Information Tool for Technicians to Be Named i-Tech Receives
Enthusiastic Response from Dealers
BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 7, 2003– American Honda Motor Company and Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS)
today reported that Honda successfully introduced Microvision’s Nomad
Augmented Vision System to its assemblies of American Honda and Acura
dealers. The product introduction took place at the auto company’s two
annual dealer shows held in San Diego, September 18, and San
Francisco, October 2. Based on the enthusiastic dealer response,
Microvision is planning a launch in early 2004.
Unveiled to dealers under the Honda name “i-Tech Expert Technician
System,” the Nomad Augmented Vision System is a powerful tool that
promises to increase the efficiency and accuracy of service
technicians performing complex repair procedures, thereby reducing
costs and increasing customer satisfaction. The head-worn display,
designed by Microvision, can overlay automobile diagnostics and repair
instructions directly on the technician’s vision. The result is that
work is completed accurately and efficiently.
“Our mission is customer satisfaction,” said Tom Laymon, Honda’s
assistant vice president for national parts and service. “Providing
our dealers and their service centers with the right tools to “fix it
right the first time” is a key focus for Honda. We believe that the
Nomad wireless, head-worn information tool is the best service
solution for the increasing complexity of the vehicles and ever-higher
customer expectations for quality, timely repairs. Based on our
recently concluded evaluation of the next-generation Nomad product and
coupled with the enthusiastic feedback from our Honda dealers at the
annual conference, we are planning to roll out the i-Tech Expert
Technician System to our dealers and technicians in early 2004.”
Comments from Honda dealers following the National Conference in
San Diego underscored the enthusiasm for the i-Tech Expert Technician
System. Larry Mallory, general manager of Honda of Kirkland in
Kirkland, Washington, and Chairman of Honda’s e-Business Dealer
Council commented, “I believe that i-Tech will be a great tool for our
technicians, both the “top techs” and the less-experienced techs on
our team. Our service operation is eager to use this new product. We
already envision the value of i-Tech for diagnostic and warranty
repairs and claims coding, as well as the training potential offered
by i-Tech. Honda of Kirkland is eagerly looking forward to working
with this promising new tool.”
“i-Tech will let my technicians fix the vehicles right the first
time, which means satisfied customers and a more productive service
team,” said Jim Lanik, owner of Roger Beasely Honda South East of San
Antonio in Victoria, Texas. “I am one of the few dealers who is a
master technician. Repairing cars is how I got into the business. I
sure wish we had this type of product in my day — I can’t wait to get
i-Tech into my shop.”
In a field trial of the Nomad Augmented Vision System at the
American Honda Motor Company training center in Torrance, CA,
Microvision and Honda measured average increases of 39% in the
efficiency of skilled service technicians performing complex repair
procedures. As part of a recent study commissioned by Microvision, a
formula for return on investment (ROI) with the use of the Nomad
Augmented Vision System was created for a typical automotive
dealership. At a conservative 18 – 20% time efficiency gain, a
dealership would realize a net ROI of $2,292 per technician per month.
Annualized for eight technicians the ROI could be as high as $113,000.
American Honda Motor Company has approximately 1,500 Honda and
Acura dealerships with an estimated 18,000 technicians, as well as an
estimated 50,000 Honda-certified independent technicians in the U.S.
The technicians in each of these locations are potential users of the
i-tech Expert Technician System. On July 31, 2003 Microvision
announced a non-binding Letter of Intent from Honda to purchase 3800
Nomad Systems beginning in 2004.
The i-Tech system will be a wireless, head-worn information tool
incorporating a lightweight Nomad display mounted on a Honda/Acura
baseball cap, and a belt-worn control module with integrated ‘thin
client’ computer and battery. The i-Tech tool will display and control
Honda service and diagnostic information through Microsoft Remote
Desktop Protocol from a remote Windows(R) 2003 Server using an
802.11(b) wireless network. “The ‘thin-client’ format makes it
possible and affordable for all technicians in a typical dealership
service center to simultaneously access separate information from one
server,” said Tom Sanko, vice president of marketing for Microvision.
“We’re thrilled with the enthusiasm conveyed by the dealers at
both shows,” continued Sanko. “Seeing strong evidence of demand from
the dealers was a key factor in driving our launch strategy. The next
steps for Honda and Microvision include gathering feedback from
several scheduled field tests of the i-Tech system at selected Honda
and Acura dealers throughout the U.S. It is the final important step
in preparing for product launch in early 2004. We’re fine tuning the
product configuration by having the technicians use the product
throughout a typical work day.”
Microvision and Honda are expected to showcase the i-Tech Expert
Technician System in the Honda exhibit at two upcoming industry trade
shows: the Specialty Equipment Market Association in Las Vegas
November 4-7 and the National Autobody Congress and Expo in Orlando
December 5-7.
About Microvision: www.microvision.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision Inc. is the developer
of highly patented scanned beam technology for display and imaging
applications. The company’s technology has applications in a broad
range of military, medical, industrial, professional and consumer
information products.
Forward Looking Statement
Certain statements contained in this release, including product
development and launch plans, potential product users, future
arrangements with Honda, opportunities for product sales, and product
applications, as well as statements containing words like “believe,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and other similar expressions, are
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected in the company’s forward-looking
statements include the following: market acceptance of our
technologies and products; our ability to obtain financing; our
financial and technical resources relative to those of our
competitors; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change;
government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our
intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies;
the ability to obtain additional contract awards and to develop
partnership opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches;
the ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products; and
other risk factors identified from time to time in the company’s SEC
reports, including in its Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
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CONTACT: Microvision, Inc.
Matt Nichols (media), 425-415-6657
Brian Heagler (investors), 425-415-6794
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc.