JULY 31--Microvision Inc. (Bothell, WA; www.microvision.com/) reports that American Honda Motor Co. Inc. has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to purchase 3800 Nomad Vision Systems with shipments to begin in January 2004, following Microvision's planned release of a next-generation Nomad System later this year. The Nomad Expert Technician System will be an information tool consisting of a wearable display and integrated wireless computer package that provides wireless access to test data and repair information for automotive and other service technicians. The information is superimposed directly on their vision at the point of task, head-up and hands-free.
Honda intends to distribute the Nomad Expert Technician Systems to its Honda and Acura dealers and to independent repair shops in North America. The letter of intent follows the successful results of a trial in late April with the Nomad System at American Honda's training facility in Torrance, CA, in which technicians averaged an impressive 39% gain in efficiency. Honda's intent to purchase identifies several conditions including a scheduled test of the enhanced Nomad product at Honda's training facilities in late August.
American Honda supplies tools and equipment to approximately 1300 Honda and Acura dealers employing about 18,000 Honda certified technicians plus another 50,000 technicians at independent Honda-authorized repair shops in North America. Microvision says that it estimates that there are 590,000 service technicians employed at automotive dealerships and independent repair garages throughout North America and nearly 1.4 million worldwide.
