Telematics is about much more than technology

Telematics should be looked at as a business model, not a technology model, says Delphi's Frank Ordo?ez, at a press conference yesterday morning. The company has been on the cusp of this telematics revolution for some time, but Ordo?ez, president of

Chris Miller

Jan. 1, 2020

2 min read

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Untitled DocumentLAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2007) — Telematics should be looked at as a business model, not a technology model, says Delphi’s Frank Ordoñez, at a press conference yesterday morning.

The company has been on the cusp of this telematics revolution for some time, but Ordoñez, president of Delphi Product & Service Solutions, stresses that the issue is bigger than Delphi: the aftermarket needs to devise an industrywide solution to get involved with bringing vehicles into the bays of independent repairers.

Most OEMs already have telematics solutions in place. “If we do a half-baked

solution, it’s going to fail,” Ordoñez stresses, adding a unified solution would be best led by the industry associations.

Some of the groundbreaking technology available is an OnStar feature that can incapacitate a stolen vehicle. “They can stop a vehicle in its tracks with telematics,” says Ordoñez.

At yesterday’s press conference, Ordoñez also shared that the company is getting even closer to emerging from bankruptcy. In fact, a plan of reorganization will go before a judge Nov. 8. “We are transforming into a leaner company,” he adds.
Delphi has booked $52 billion in new business over the past 23 months, 42 percent of which has been in North America.

At the press conference, Ordoñez stressed three key trends in the industry fueling consumer demand as mentioned earlier in the week: safety, green and connected.

Diesel and hybrid vehicles are moving at a “significant clip,” and connectivity “is one of the fastest growing areas of the vehicle,” Ordoñez adds.

David Barbeau, vice president of global sales & marketing, shared more good news from the supplier: sales volume is up nearly 50 percent.

In the engine management category, sales are up more than 20 percent; and heating and cooling and fuel management have seen sales increases of 50 and 90 percent, respectively.

Tools and training is up 200 percent, adds Barbeau.

The company remains at the forefront of technology development, especially as it pertains to sensors using planar technology. “Delphi has manufactured over 200 million oxygen sensors,” Barbeau adds. One out of every 10 vehicles carries a Delphi oxygen sensor, according to the company.

Also at the press conference, Delphi honored RPM Sales and Marketing, in Woodstock, Ontario, with its Sales Agency of the Year award.

About the Author

Chris Miller

Chris Miller holds a BS in plant and soil science from the University of Delaware and a MS from Michigan State University. He was an assistant superintendent at Franklin Hills CC in Michigan, then worked for Aquatrols for five years, until the end of 2000, as senior research agronomist, responsible for overseeing and organizing turfgrass related research involving the company’s product line as well as new products. He now teaches computer programming at Computer Learning Centers, Inc. in Cherry Hill, NJ.