Auto aftermarket brand Pearl Automation has shuttered it doors but found a taker for its flagship wireless RearVision backup safety system.
American Road Products has agreed to assume responsibility for the RearVision system’s strategic roadmap, product marketing, sales, support and software development. The RearVision system debuted last year and was the first aftermarket back-up camera to utilize a customer’s smartphone for display.
With two wide-angles cameras embedded in a license plate frame, the product is designed to be simple to install, features smart parking guidelines, and can pan left or right for better visibility. But the system retails for about $500, which proved a tough sell in the car aftermarket.
Pearl was a three-year-old Silicon Valley start-up founded by three former Apple executives who sought to incorporate Apple’s ethic for design with a less structured and more transparent corporate culture.
American Road Products has been around for more than 18 years and was the first manufacturer of a license plate frame aftermarket backup safety system, and holds patents related to its ReverseGuard product.
American Road Products intends to integrate the RearVision product into its aftermarket strategy, which includes a significant investment in the development of advanced safety technologies, the company said. It will continue to support existing Pearl RearVision customers and channel partners to assure a successful transition while growing the business, it added, and plans to launch a bundled rear-safety solution to include professional installation with a lifetime warranty.
