CalAmp
A provider of telematics hardware, connected-asset software, cloud services, and data intelligence.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
CalAmp Corporation was a United States technology company that developed Internet of Things products and software for tracking, managing, and analyzing mobile assets. Its principal activities centered on fleet telematics: connected devices and cloud applications that enable organizations to monitor vehicles, drivers, cargo, equipment, and other remotely located assets. The company also offered data intelligence and software-as-a-service capabilities for transportation, logistics, public transportation, school-bus operations, insurance, automotive dealerships, and connected-car applications. The business began in 1981 as California Amplifier Inc., founded in Newbury Park, California, by Jacob Inbar and David Nichols. The founders had previously worked together in a microwave division of Eaton Corporation. In its early years, the company manufactured amplifiers and related equipment for microwave signal transmission, including applications in satellite video and broadband communications. California Amplifier became a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq in 1983. During the 1980s it moved to Camarillo, California, and discontinued consumer-oriented amplifier production, concentrating more heavily on communications infrastructure and specialized business markets. CalAmp expanded beyond its original hardware niche through acquisitions. In 1999 it entered the direct-broadcast satellite market by purchasing the Gardiner Group, a Texas supplier of satellite-dish components. In 2003 it acquired communications-software company Vytek, and in 2004 it relocated to Oxnard, California, and adopted the CalAmp name. Subsequent acquisitions broadened its wireless-data, machine-to-machine, public-safety, vehicle-location, and fleet-management capabilities. These included Dataradio, the mobile resource management business of TechnoCom, and the Aercept vehicle-tracking business of AirIQ. During the 2010s, CalAmp increasingly repositioned itself as a telematics and IoT company. It acquired Wireless Matrix in 2012, adding fleet-management applications, and Crashboxx in 2015, adding vehicle risk-management technology for insurers and fleet operators. The company also made a decisive move into connected-car and stolen-vehicle-recovery services when it acquired LoJack Corporation in 2016 for approximately $134 million. LoJack brought the company a recognizable stolen-vehicle-recovery brand, related intellectual property, and products such as LotSmart for automotive dealers and SureDrive for connected-car users. CalAmp phased out its direct-broadcast satellite business by approximately 2016 and concentrated on SaaS-based telematics, connected devices, and data services. It later expanded the LoJack network through the acquisition of licensees in Mexico and the United Kingdom, launched the Maven pet-tracking device with CargoSense, and acquired Synovia Solutions in 2019. Synovia strengthened CalAmp's position in public-transportation and school-bus tracking. Leadership changed in 2020, when chief executive Michael Burdiek retired and Jeff Gardner became chief executive. The company subsequently faced prolonged financial pressure. In 2024, CalAmp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reached a restructuring arrangement under which lenders exchanged approximately $229 million of bonds for equity. The company attributed its weak financial condition to several years of difficulty, including the cost and performance of the LoJack acquisition and a program that extended customer payment terms. Following restructuring, CalAmp was taken private by Lynrock Lake LP. The company's post-restructuring operating status and whether the CalAmp brand remains active as an independent operating business are not fully established in the supplied reference material.
History
CalAmp originated as California Amplifier Inc., established in 1981 in Newbury Park, California, by Jacob Inbar and David Nichols. The founders had worked together in Eaton Corporation's microwave division and initially applied their communications expertise to amplifiers and other equipment used for microwave signal transmission. The company's early markets included satellite video and broadband communications. It began trading on Nasdaq in 1983. By 1986, the company had moved to Camarillo, California, and had withdrawn from consumer amplifier manufacturing. Its subsequent development involved a gradual shift from specialized communications hardware toward broader wireless-data and machine-to-machine applications. In 1999, California Amplifier entered the direct-broadcast satellite sector by acquiring the Gardiner Group, a Texas company supplying satellite-dish components. In December 2003, it acquired communications-software company Vytek for approximately $76.8 million. The company moved to Oxnard, California, in March 2004 and changed its name to CalAmp Corporation in August of that year. CalAmp expanded its wireless-data capabilities in 2006 through the acquisition of Montreal-based Dataradio, a wireless-radio company serving public-safety and machine-to-machine applications. It also acquired TechnoCom's mobile-resource-management business, giving it additional enterprise asset-tracking and fleet-management capabilities. In 2007, CalAmp purchased the Aercept vehicle-tracking business from AirIQ, broadening its automatic-vehicle-location offering. By 2010, the company was selling telematics hardware, including telematic control units, alongside direct-broadcast satellite products. The business moved further toward fleet software and connected-asset services in December 2012, when it announced the purchase of Wireless Matrix for approximately $53 million. A stock offering announced in early 2013 was intended in part to help finance that transaction. In April 2015, CalAmp acquired Crashboxx, a telematics startup whose risk-management vehicle-tracking system served insurance companies and fleet operators. The company had largely phased out its direct-broadcast satellite business by 2016 and was concentrating on SaaS telematics products and services. Its most important strategic transaction of that period was the acquisition of LoJack Corporation. Announced in February 2016 and completed in March, the approximately $134 million deal brought CalAmp the LoJack stolen-vehicle-recovery system, related patents and trademarks, and a platform for connected-car and automotive-dealer products. CalAmp moved its headquarters from Oxnard to Irvine in April 2016. Later that year it introduced LoJack LotSmart, intended for automotive-dealer inventory management, and LoJack SureDrive, a connected-car application. CalAmp continued to extend the LoJack business internationally. In 2019 it acquired Car Track in Mexico and Tracker in the United Kingdom, both LoJack licensees. The same year it launched Maven, a smartwatch-sized pet-tracking device developed with CargoSense, and acquired Synovia Solutions for approximately $50 million. Synovia was known for applications used in public transportation and school-bus tracking, complementing CalAmp's existing fleet and asset-telematics portfolio. Michael Burdiek retired as chief executive in March 2020 and was replaced by Jeff Gardner. In the following years, CalAmp experienced serious financial strain. In 2024, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and pursued a secured restructuring in which lenders exchanged approximately $229 million in bonds for equity. The company said its financial problems had developed over several years and identified the LoJack acquisition and an unsuccessful program that extended customer payment terms as contributing factors. After restructuring, CalAmp was taken private by Lynrock Lake LP. The supplied reference material does not establish a definitive post-restructuring operating status, current executive roster, or current corporate website.
- 2024
Chapter 11 restructuring and take-private transaction
[1]CalAmp filed for Chapter 11, arranged an exchange of approximately $229 million of bonds for equity, and was subsequently taken private by Lynrock Lake LP.
- 2020
Chief executive transition
[1]Michael Burdiek retired as chief executive and Jeff Gardner replaced him.
- 2019
Expanded pet, international, and transit telematics offerings
[1]CalAmp launched Maven, acquired LoJack licensees in Mexico and the United Kingdom, and purchased Synovia Solutions for approximately $50 million.
- 2016
Acquired LoJack and shifted further toward SaaS telematics
[1]CalAmp completed its approximately $134 million LoJack acquisition, phased out its direct-broadcast satellite business, and introduced connected-car and dealer-lot products under the LoJack brand.
- 2015
Acquired Crashboxx
[1]The company bought Crashboxx, adding vehicle risk-management and tracking technology aimed at insurers and fleet operators.
- 2012
Announced Wireless Matrix acquisition
[1]CalAmp announced a deal to acquire fleet-management application provider Wireless Matrix for approximately $53 million.
- 2007
Acquired the Aercept vehicle-tracking business
[1]The Aercept acquisition expanded CalAmp's automatic-vehicle-location and telematics capabilities.
- 2006
Expanded into wireless data and machine-to-machine communications
[1]CalAmp acquired Dataradio and TechnoCom's mobile-resource-management line, adding public-safety, machine-to-machine, asset-tracking, and fleet-management capabilities.
- 2004
Adopted the CalAmp name
[1]The company relocated to Oxnard, California, and changed its corporate name to CalAmp Corporation.
- 2003
Acquired Vytek
[1]California Amplifier acquired communications-software company Vytek for approximately $76.8 million.
Products and positioning
An enterprise IoT and telematics provider combining connected hardware, cloud software, location intelligence, and asset-management applications for transportation, automotive, logistics, public-sector, insurance, and other mobile-asset industries.
Connected-vehicle and fleet hardware
Telematics control units
CalAmp's telematics hardware category included edge devices installed in vehicles and other mobile assets. These units supported remote location, operational, and status data collection and connected physical assets to cloud-based fleet-management and IoT applications.
SaaS telematics
Fleet management software
The company's fleet-management applications were designed to help organizations monitor vehicles, drivers, routes, cargo, and other mobile resources. The portfolio grew through acquisitions including Wireless Matrix, TechnoCom's mobile-resource-management business, and Synovia Solutions.
Vehicle security and recovery
LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System
Acquired with LoJack in 2016, the Stolen Vehicle Recovery System used connected-vehicle technology and the LoJack brand to support recovery of stolen vehicles. CalAmp owned the relevant LoJack patents and trademarks according to the supplied reference.
Automotive dealer inventory management · 2016
LoJack LotSmart
LotSmart was introduced as an automotive-dealer inventory management solution. It extended LoJack's connected-vehicle capabilities into dealer lots, where location and inventory visibility can support vehicle management and operational workflows.
Connected-car application · 2016
LoJack SureDrive
SureDrive was introduced as a connected-car application under the LoJack brand. It represented CalAmp's effort to apply telematics and vehicle data to consumer-facing connected-car services.
Pet tracking · 2019
Maven
Maven was a smartwatch-sized pet-tracking device launched in conjunction with CargoSense. It extended CalAmp's location and connected-asset expertise beyond commercial fleets to personal and companion-animal tracking.
Public transportation and school-bus telematics
Synovia transportation tracking applications
Synovia Solutions supplied applications for public transportation and school-bus tracking. CalAmp acquired the company in 2019, adding specialized transportation-management software to its wider fleet-telematics portfolio.
Brand decisions
2024
Chapter 11 restructuringStrategyBackground
CalAmp reported sustained financial weakness and identified the LoJack acquisition and an unsuccessful program that extended customer payment terms as factors contributing to its condition.
Action taken
The company filed for Chapter 11 and negotiated a secured restructuring in which lenders exchanged approximately $229 million of bonds for equity. The restructured company was subsequently taken private by Lynrock Lake LP.
Aftermath
CalAmp ceased to be a publicly traded company after the restructuring and take-private transaction. Its precise post-restructuring operating status is not established in the supplied sources.
Bonds exchanged for equity. $229 million in bonds → Equity ownership by lenders (2024)
2016
Acquire LoJack CorporationM&ABackground
CalAmp was moving away from direct-broadcast satellite products and toward SaaS telematics, connected vehicles, and data services. LoJack provided an established vehicle-recovery brand, intellectual property, and adjacent connected-car opportunities.
Action taken
CalAmp announced the approximately $134 million acquisition in February 2016 and completed it in March. It subsequently introduced LoJack LotSmart and LoJack SureDrive and expanded the LoJack business through international licensee acquisitions.
Aftermath
The acquisition became a major component of CalAmp's connected-vehicle strategy, but the company later cited the LoJack transaction as one contributor to its prolonged financial difficulties.
Acquisition value. $134 million (2016)
2016
Phase out direct-broadcast satellite operationsStrategyBackground
CalAmp had historically sold direct-broadcast satellite products but was increasingly emphasizing connected devices, SaaS telematics, and IoT data services.
Action taken
By 2016, the company had phased out its direct-broadcast satellite business and concentrated its resources and positioning on telematics software and services.
Aftermath
The decision established telematics and connected-asset management as the company's principal strategic direction.
Recent events
CalAmp launches iOn fleet management software in the U.K.[2]
Reported:
CalAmp announced that its subsidiary Tracker Network (UK) Limited had launched CalAmp's iOn fleet and asset management software in the U.K., providing commercial fleet operators a platform to manage vehicles, drivers and associated assets.
CalAmp launches LoJack España in Spain[3]
Reported:
CalAmp announced the launch of LoJack España, bringing its connected-car services and stolen-vehicle recovery solutions to the Spanish market.
CalAmp announces Henry J. Maier’s board appointment[4]
Reported:
CalAmp announced that Henry J. Maier would be appointed to its Board of Directors effective June 1, 2021. The article reports the announcement; the appointment was scheduled for a future date.
CalAmp begins winding down LoJack U.S. operations[5]
Reported:
CalAmp said it had begun winding down LoJack's U.S. operations, which provided stolen vehicle recovery products and related services. CalAmp said it would continue operating and investing in its international LoJack business.
CalAmp appoints Kirsten Wolberg to its board[6]
Reported:
CalAmp announced that Kirsten Wolberg had been appointed to its board of directors.
CalAmp appoints Jeff Gardner president and CEO[7]
Reported:
CalAmp announced that it appointed Jeff Gardner as its president and CEO; he had served as interim president and CEO since March 25, 2020.
CalAmp announces plan to exit automotive vehicle financing business[8]
Reported:
CalAmp announced a strategic decision to transition out of the automotive vehicle financing business, stating that it believed the move would enhance the quality of its SaaS revenue and improve gross margins and profitability.
LoJack México partners with GNP Seguros on vehicle recovery[9]
Reported:
CalAmp announced that its subsidiary LoJack México signed a partnership agreement with GNP Seguros. Under the agreement, LoJack México will begin installing its stolen vehicle recovery technology in vehicles insured by GNP at Michelin Car Centers and auto dealers across Mexico.
CalAmp launches iOn Tag visibility service[10]
Reported:
CalAmp announced the commercial availability of its iOn Tag visibility service, which helps fleet operators monitor and protect assets critical to service delivery.
CalAmp reports fiscal 2020 third-quarter results[11]
Reported:
CalAmp reported fiscal 2020 third-quarter financial results, including record consolidated revenue of $96.6 million, up 9% year over year, and a GAAP net loss of $7.4 million.
Sources13 sources
- 1CalAmpen.wikipedia.org
- 2CalAmp在英国推出iOn车队管理软件prnewswire.com
- 3CalAmp在西班牙推出LoJack Españaprnewswire.com
- 4CalAmp宣布任命Henry J. Maier为董事会成员prnewswire.com
- 5CalAmp开始逐步结束LoJack在美国的业务prnewswire.com
- 6CalAmp任命Kirsten Wolberg为董事会成员prnewswire.com
- 7CalAmp任命Jeff Gardner为总裁兼首席执行官prnewswire.com
- 8CalAmp 宣布计划退出汽车车辆融资业务prnewswire.com
- 9LoJack México与GNP Seguros合作开展车辆寻回服务prnewswire.com
- 10CalAmp 推出 iOn Tag 可视化服务prnewswire.com
- 11CalAmp 发布 2020 财年第三季度业绩prnewswire.com
- 12CalAmp Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Resultsprnewswire.com
- 13CalAmp Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Resultsprnewswire.com
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