April 9, 2009

Garmin: Factory Install on Jeep Grand Cherokee

Garmin has announced that they are going to be the OEM supplier to in-dash navigation for the Jeep grand Cherokee at the Chrysler corporation. The move is a big one for them, and could signal a change and a recognition that having branded navigation is a value add, to the overall car much like a Bose branded stereo. I think it brings the opportunity to get a well honed and well supported navigation system into the car making for a well understood and high quality experience for Jeep buyers without the added expense and engineering on the car maker's part.

While navigation is usually a hefty option on new cars, this is said to be an "affordable" option with a 6.5" screen.

Full press release below.....

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that its automotive OEM division will provide in-dash navigation for the new 2011 model year Chrysler Grand Cherokee, which debuted today at the New York Auto Show.

The program marks Garmin's first major automotive navigation system to be installed at the factory. The system combines Garmin's best-selling, affordable, and intuitive user interface into Chrysler's Uconnect radio that merges technology and content into one 6.5" touchscreen display.

"Garmin is uniquely positioned to quickly bring the latest and greatest navigation technology to an in-dash environment - priced at a level that mainstream drivers can afford," said Cliff Pemble, Garmin's president and chief operating officer. "Being a navigation provider for Chrysler is a significant and long sought-after achievement for our company. We look forward to collaborating with them on this exciting project."

The collaborative effort puts Garmin's nüvi-like consumer experience - complete with affordable map updates - into an original equipment, in-dash radio. The navigator includes highly detailed Navteq maps of North America with nearly six million points of interest, as well as many cutting-edge features found in Garmin's newest portable devices, like:

Lane Assist - guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate.
,li> Junction View - realistically displays 3D road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.

Speed Limit & Current Speed - know at a glance whether you're within the posted speed limit.

Where Am I? - get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations.

Speaks Street Names - so you never have to take your eyes off the road.

Customized Vehicle Icons - personalize your navigation with Chrysler-specific icons.