Visteon, XM To Beam Satellite Radio

DEARBORN, Mich.--Visteon Corp. and XM Satellite Radio have formed a partnership to design, develop, manufacture, market and license XM satellite radio technology receivers for automotive audio entertainment. The first satellite is to blast-off Jan. 8.

By combining Visteon’s vehicle systems and multimedia expertise with XM’s 100-channel audio entertainment service, the two companies anticipate providing consumers with the ability to listen to as many as 100 new radio channels from coast-to-coast, covering such formats as music, news, talks, sports, entertainment and children’s programming, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We’re excited about the possibilities that this new relationship will bring both Visteon and XM,” said Visteon’s John Slosar. “This agreement is just one more example of our dedication to provide consumers with what they say they want and need. In this case, we look forward to providing them with radios that are capable of accepting XM’s satellite transmissions.”

In addition to “excellent sound and reception quality,” the satellite radio system will display on the in-car units additional information for listeners, including the channel name and number, artist and song title.

“We look forward to working with Visteon, a world renowned supplier of automotive technology and presenting the XM sound experience to their automotive customers,” said XM’s Vice President of Retail, Marketing and Distribution, Dan Murphy.

XM will create and package up to 100 national channels of digital sound. Using two high-powered satellites, the first of which is scheduled to launch on Jan. 8, XM will provide coast-to-coast coverage of music, news, sports, talk, comedy and children’s programming. Through its partnerships with leading auto manufacturers including General Motors Corp., American Honda Motor Corp., Freightliner and Chevy Trucks, “XM will transform radio, an industry that hasn’t seen a technological change since FM, almost 40 years ago,” said Murphy. “XM-ready radios will be manufactured by such household names as Sony, Alpine and Pioneer Electronics Corporation and sold by automotive and retail outlets such as Best Buy and Circuit City,” he explained.

For more information, contact www.xmradio.com and www.visteon.com.