Textron Specialized Vehicles has acquired TKVGPS, a provider of GPS-based fleet management solutions and GPS technologies to enhance the on-course experience for golfers.
Textron Specialized Vehicles golf division includes the E-Z-GO, Jacobsen and Cushman lines.
The TKVGPS fleet-management solutions provide golf-course owners and operators with extensive, real-time information to help them monitor, maintain and protect their fleets of golf cars and utility vehicles. Among the company's list of features are remote amp-hour and odometer monitoring, state-of-charge reports and charging histories for electric vehicles; vehicle travel histories, fleet utilization and rotation reports, pace-of-play monitoring, remote diagnostics, and geofencing capabilities with remote vehicle shutdown that allow courses to keep vehicles within specified boundaries for safety and security.
Options include the TKVGPS TKV 7, TKV 7EX and TKV 10EX systems that provide golfers with real-time rangefinding and course layouts using bright, high-resolution 7-inch and 10-inch displays. These systems also provide automatic and two-way messaging capabilities between the clubhouse and the golfer. TKVGPS' web-based fleet-management software allows its systems to be managed from a wide range of PC and mobile hardware platforms, often by leveraging hardware already in place at the golf course.
"TKVGPS fleet-management systems add an important dimension to Textron Specialized Vehicles' portfolio of products and solutions for today's golf-course operator," said Kevin Holleran, president and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles. "Courses can select from a range of proven fleet-management solutions to meet the specific needs of their particular facility, protect their investments in vehicle fleets and turf-care equipment, monitor events on their course, and enhance the playing experience for their golfers."
The technology can be used not only in golf cars, but turf maintenance vehicles as well.
TKVGPS will continue to operate from its facilities in Vancouver, Canada and Pitesti, Romania.