SATELLITE tracking and telematics firm Minorplanet Spain has received a European Commission grant that will halve the cost of systems to fleet customers.

It said the grant comes soon after the CETM (Spanish Confederation of the Transport of Goods) selection process chose Minorplanet as having 'the best and most advanced technology in Spain'.

'It is part of an initiative to greatly improve the productivity and efficiency of the Spanish transport industry,' the company added.

Since the deal was announced, Minorplanet Spain said it has received 900 of the 2,500 orders that are to be subsidised through the grant. It is available to haulage companies, who also operate light commercial vehicles.

The company is part of Minorplanet Systems, a worldwide leader in vehicle management information systems (VMI).

The system uses a Data Collection Unit (DCU), that continually monitors and records the vehicle's position, speed and distance travelled anywhere in the world, using global positioning satellite (GPS).