Jeff Van Dongen says the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a need for effective and safe disinfectants, developed specifically for automotive.

Van Dongen is chief executive officer of motormindz, and the company recently announced a strategic partnership with vehicle-cleanliness products and hygienic consulting company NuVinAir Global.

motormindz will assist the industry expansion of NuVinAir’s Total Health products that more than 500 U.S. auto dealerships are using and will support the needs of the rental-car and fleet markets.

“As part of our extensive assessment process, we looked at eight leading-edge solutions, with NuVinAir clearly rising to the top,” Van Dongen said in a news release. Van Dongen developed auto industry technologies for 22 years before founding motormindz in 2014 with 33-year Chrysler employee Ray Fisher.

motormindz’s network includes more than 80 automotive and technology executive subject-matter experts who work toward delivering services and technologies “across the automotive ecosystem.”

Don Johnson, a General Motors employee for more than 30 years, said OEMs and dealers should be aware of what’s important, and what isn’t, in choosing the right product for their specific application.

“Our stakeholders require an easy, autonomous application, as well as an inexpensive, comprehensive, and patented materials-sciences technology that won't harm vehicles’ surfaces, and NuVinAir was the clear choice,” Johnson said.

motormindz said consumer interest in strong-quality, safe, and effective disinfection methods continue to increase. Because of that, OEMs and dealers want affordable, scalable, and profitable ways of addressing that need.

“Every day, I speak with OEs, dealerships, and suppliers about their unique needs, and yet there is a common thread: They all want no-touch, automotive-specific cleaning solutions that work quickly and effectively on all areas and surfaces of the vehicle, and that’s exactly what NuVinAir is bringing to the industry,” said NuVinAir chief operating officer Troy Blackwell.

Blackwell previously served in leadership positions for AutoNation and CarMax, and he joined NuVinAir in August 2019 after leading an AutoNation brand extension and launching AutoNation USA, a chain of stand-alone used-car dealerships. Under his leadership, NuVinAir recently launched ReKlenz-X — an EPA-approved, eco-friendly disinfectant cleaner.

“Marrying NuVinAir’s expertise in patented technology and treatments with motormindz’ operational experience and discerning selection process yields a fantastic opportunity to bring our unique ‘Total Health’ offering to an entire industry, while helping OEs and dealers protect their millions of consumers,” Blackwell said.