DUSSELDORF, Germany, June 22 /PRNewswire/ --

ATX Group, a leading provider of customized connected vehicle (telematics) services to global automobile manufacturers, announced today that its services are now available to rental car customers in Germany through a program offered by BMW and Sixt rental car agency. Sixt customers who rent a BMW at one of the over 500 Sixt retail outlets throughout Germany will have exclusive and free access to BMW Assist and BMW Online connected vehicle services, provided through the BMW Connected Drive program supported by ATX.

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By activating BMW Information service -- after selecting BMW services in the BMW navigation system -- the driver is connected via carphone with ATX databases and response specialists who can provide a wide range of navigation and concierge assistance services, such as selecting and making hotel reservations, finding nearby parking or fuel stations, booking restaurant reservations, locating a pharmacy, shopping options to find the perfect gift for an acquaintance or business client the traveler may be visiting upon reaching his/her destination, or verifying an address. These services also are available if the customer drives into 14 other countries in Western Europe.

ATX has more than a decade of experience in providing location-based emergency assistance to motorists, enabled by satellite location technology and in-vehicle crash sensors or designated SOS buttons to notify and help guide emergency responders to the vehicle's exact location. ATX response specialists also can continue to monitor the emergency until emergency responders arrive at the scene.

Sixt customers renting BMW vehicles also will be able to instantly access Web-based information on the vehicle's navigation screen, including the latest news, sports, and weather conditions and forecasts. Drivers will also be able to conduct Web searches through Google(R) and access general travel information, including posted speed limits, parking availability, and the location of ATMs.

Since the introduction of ConnectedDrive in 1999, ATX has worked with BMW in pioneering in-vehicle access to Web-based information that is customized to meet the unique safety and acoustic requirements of the vehicle.

Whether helping guide travelers through unfamiliar areas or responding to in-vehicle emergencies, ATX's personnel and database/technical infrastructure reflect a decade of experience and continuous improvement in addressing the technical challenges of providing valuable assistance to drivers, said Arnaud de Meulemeester, managing director of ATX Europe, GmbH. Real-time safety and informational services provided through connected vehicles are perfectly suited to assist rental car customers.

ATX owns and operates a specialized telematics response center in Dusseldorf that provides services directly to drivers in Western Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France and Italy. ATX supports those drivers in their native language traveling in Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Vatican City, and Andorra.

ABOUT ATX:

With operations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Dusseldorf, Germany, ATX (www.atxg.com) is a leading provider of customized connected vehicle (telematics) services to global automobile manufacturers. ATX services, among the first to be launched in the consumer vehicle market back in 1996, are provided to vehicle owners through the brand names of its customers: Toyota, Lexus, BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Services by ATX provide enhanced safety, security and driving convenience to vehicle owners, and include location-specific emergency and roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle recovery, remote diagnostics, and real-time traffic and navigation assistance. ATX also customizes services to help automobile manufacturers and their affiliated dealerships use telematics data and multiple customer contact channels to reduce costs, enhance vehicle servicing, and more closely manage customer relationships and contacts with the vehicle through its lifetime.

ATX is a division of Cross Country Automotive Services (www.crosscountry-auto.com), a leading provider of comprehensive vehicle and driver programs for insurance, automotive and other consumer-facing industries in North America and Europe.

Gary Wallace, Vice President, Corporate Relations of ATX Group, +1-800-511-5891 or +1-972-753-6230, gwallace@atxg.com. Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090303/ATXLOGO