Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 23, 2026

Masternaut

Masternaut Limited is a British telematics company that provides fleet management, fleet management software, asset tracking, and vehicle tracking services. It has been a subsidiary of Michelin since 2019 and operates under the brand MICHELIN Connected Fleet, having previously traded as Masternaut.

Last revised
Jul 23, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Masternaut Limited
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTelematics
Founded1996 (1996)
FounderSerge Deleau
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK,
Key people
Dhruv S. Parekh (CEO)
ParentMichelin
Websitewww.masternaut.com

Masternaut Limited is a British telematics company that provides fleet management, fleet management software, asset tracking, and vehicle tracking services. It has been a subsidiary of Michelin since 2019 and operates under the brand MICHELIN Connected Fleet, having previously traded as Masternaut.

History

The company was founded in France in 1996 by Serge Deleau as SDM.1

During the late 2000s, the UK telematics provider Cybit made several acquisitions in the sector, including Thales Telematics from Thales Group in 20072 and the German telematics provider Truck24 in 2008 for €4 million.3 In 2009, private equity firm Francisco Partners acquired Cybit Holdings plc in a £23 million deal, taking the company private.4

In 2011, Francisco Partners merged Masternaut with Cybit in a deal valued at £100 million.1 Two years later, the combined business acquired Three X, a mobile workforce management software company, from GE.5 In 2014, Masternaut was sold to Summit Partners and Fleetcor,6 and Dhruv S. Parekh was appointed chief executive officer in 2015.7

Michelin acquired Masternaut in 2019 as part of its expansion into fleet telematics services.8

Operations

Masternaut's services use GPS technology to support automatic vehicle location, asset tracking, and vehicle tracking, with data transmitted over GPRS and GSM mobile networks and made available to customers through a web-based platform, Masternaut Connect.

Hardware can be installed via a vehicle's CAN bus, its OBD-II port, or a 12-volt socket. The company has signed factory-fit telematics agreements with vehicle manufacturers including Vauxhall, PSA and Renault,9 and supplies pre-equipped vehicles through fleet-leasing companies including Fraikin, Petit Forestier and Lex Autolease.10

References

References

  1. "New tracking business formed in merger". Growth Business. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  2. "Cybit acquires Thales Telematics". Computer Weekly. 16 February 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  3. "CybIT acquires TRUCK24 for total 4 mln euros". LSE. April 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  4. "Europe News: Francisco Clinches Cybit Deal". EBSCO Host. December 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  5. "Tracking move". Fleet News. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  6. "Telematics provider Masternaut bought by Summit Partners and FleetCor". Fleet News. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  7. "Masternaut Appoints Dhruv S. Parekh as chief executive officer". Fleet News. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  8. "Michelin to acquire Masternaut". Fleet News. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  9. "PSA Group partners with Masternaut to provide telematics to fleets". Fleet News. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  10. "Fraikin and Masternaut team up in Europe to offer a commercial telematics solution". PR Newswire. January 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2019.