Visteon Corporation and SmarTire Systems Inc. have established a partnership agreement bringing to market a “best-in-class” solution in automotive tyre monitoring technology. The two companies have agreed to combine their technical capabilities in working with automobile manufacturers to design and manufacture the latest in tyre monitoring systems. The partnership merges Visteon’s vehicle integration expertise, global design and manufacturing capability with SmarTire’s patented, wireless, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system. The demand for these systems is growing significantly from global automobile manufacturers.”This agreement is exactly the type of agreement we need to make,” said John Kill, Visteon Vice President of Product Development. “It combines the strengths of companies to cost effectively deliver the technologies our customers want and need.” The agreement places SmarTire in partnership with a Tier 1 automotive parts supplier. “Original equipment manufacturers rely on Tier 1 suppliers to provide the products, quality and scheduled deliveries required by the automotive industry,” reports Robert Rudman, SmarTire’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This relationship with Visteon opens the door for SmarTire to the original equipment marketplace. Together, the two companies will market high quality, low-cost SmarTire solutions to automotive manufacturers globally.” The agreement also allows Visteon manufacturing rights for certain SmarTire products and establishes provisions that will enable SmarTire and Visteon to jointly explore other opportunities such as the commercial vehicle market.