Ford has signed a contract for the supply of an advanced telematics system designed to generate significant operational benefits for vehicle fleet managers. For this key development of its Ford fleet telematics services, Ford has joined forces with Thales Telematics, a group company of Thales, being a global front-runner in professional electronics for the aerospace, defense, and information technology and services. Kathryn Lees, director of telematics for Ford of Europe, said, "We are delighted to have secured this advanced telematics business solution, which will provide Ford Fleet customers with industry-leading management capabilities for their vehicle fleets. There is a lot of potential for improvement of the fleet business through the practical application of telematics and this best-in-class system takes us a long way forward in that respect." Thales Telematics also views the agreement as an important industry move. CEO Edward Belgeonne, commented, "This contract is without doubt the largest and most significant of its kind in the history of the telematics industry. The combination of a highly credible and fully comprehensive telematics solution from Thales and the market power of Ford will undoubtedly lead to tremendous success." According to the company, the contract will provide Ford Fleet customers with an opportunity to achieve optimized delivery efficiency, reduced operating costs, and improved customer relations.