Smart Bits: Gemplus to Help Issue Mexican Registrations

Gemplus Americas said it is part of the team that won the bidding to supply a modernized vehicle registration system in Mexico, a contract expected to produce $900 million of revenue over 10 years.

The consortium consisting of Gemplus, licensing-system and vehicle-registration specialist Talsud, and Mexican entrepreneur Henry Davis was the only one of 22 competitors that proposed smart card technology. They intend to store on the card such information as vehicle identification number, year made, and manufacturer. The government expects the system to improve its data base maintenance and its ability to collect taxes and fines.

At least 15 million Gemplus GemClub cards are to be distributed to vehicle operators starting early next year, and the process is scheduled to be completed by yearend.

Mr. Davis, general manager of the as-yet-unnamed consortium, said Gemplus' and Talsud's smart card and system integration skills are "a perfect combination for success." Those two companies have worked together before. Talsud has implemented large-scale driver's license and vehicle registration programs in Argentina and El Salvador.

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