10/25/2004 9:35:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 25, 2004–Microvision, Inc.
(Nasdaq:MVIS) announced today the addition of Suttle Motors of Newport
News, Virginia to the Reference Account Program for the Nomad(TM)
Expert Technician System. Suttle Motors is one of the largest auto
dealers in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. With over 100 service
bays and 76 technicians, Suttle dealerships include Pontiac, GMC, Saab
and Cadillac. Suttle joins Classic Chevrolet, the country’s fourth
largest Chevy dealer; JM Lexus, the country’s largest Lexus dealer;
and Norm Reeves Honda Superstore, the world’s largest Honda dealer as
a user of the Nomad Expert Technician System.
The Nomad System is the world’s first wearable, wireless computer
with a head-worn, see-through display, providing automotive
technicians and service advisors with hands-free access to online
vehicle history and repair information while they work on vehicles or
consult with customers. Service personnel can provide faster, more
accurate service and repairs with critical information superimposed on
their vision as they work.
“My service technicians fell in love with the Nomad System,” said
George Hawes, Director of Fixed Operations at Suttle. “In addition to
using it in the service bays, our Service Writers will use the Nomad
System in the service lane to greet customers at their cars and we
will use it in the body shop to generate estimates more efficiently.”
“We are pleased to have such a highly visible customer in this
part of the country,” stated Chris Johnston, Microvision Marketing
Manager, and especially one that represents such a range of important
brands. “We’re seeing strong interest in the product from all across
the country. We’re confident that as dealers in the Mid and
South-Atlantic region learn of Suttle’s success with the Nomad system,
that we will see a further increase in activity in this important
market. We’re also excited to see the Nomad System being used in body
shop applications. Whether estimating, creating a claim-audit or a
re-inspection, the Nomad System’s daylight readable, see-through
display enables estimators to provide faster and more comprehensive
electronic estimates with estimating software and parts views
superimposed in their vision as they look at the damaged vehicles. In
a typical automobile dealership, service techs waste a great deal of
time commuting from their service bays to fixed computer terminals for
repair information and printouts. The Nomad Expert Technician System
eliminates this wasted time by instantly providing the information
that the techs need where they need it while they work.”
Reference Account Program participants have agreed to share their
experience with the Nomad Expert Technician System with other dealers
and the media, and to provide “before and after Nomad” productivity
and quality metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Nomad
installation. As a result of the Reference Program, the Nomad System
has been highlighted in the past few weeks in Associated Press, NBC
and ABC News, and numerous automotive trade and technology
publications.
According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA),
total dealership revenue reached almost $700 billion in 2003. Service
and parts departments contributed 46% of total operating profits at
the average dealership.
There were 25,200 separate new car dealer franchises listed in the
1997 U.S. Economic Census. Worldwide there are an estimated 73,000 new
car dealerships, 3,200 heavy truck dealers, 448,000 repair shops, and
48,000 tire dealers. In total these enterprises employ more than 1.37
million technicians, with 875,000 technicians employed in the U.S. by
new car dealers and aftermarket repair shops.
About Microvision: www.microvision.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision Inc. is the world
leader in the development of high-resolution displays and imaging
systems based on the company’s proprietary silicon micro-mirror
technology. The company’s technology has applications in a broad range
of military, medical, industrial, professional and consumer products.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release, including potential
market opportunity, product applications and product benefits, 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, 2003, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: Microvision, Inc.
Matt Nichols (media), 425-415-6657
or
Brian Heagler (investors), 425-415-6794
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc.