NAVTEQ Reports North American Vehicle Navigation Market Growth Trend Continues

CHICAGO, June 14 -- NAVTEQ , a leading provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, reports 2004 as a year of significant growth for the navigation industry in North America with the introduction of navigation as a new option on 29 North American car models. The adoption rate of navigation, or the total number of vehicles offering navigation as a standard or optional feature based on the total number of available vehicles, grew significantly in North America, reaching 37% of vehicles sold in 2004. With the addition of these models, a total of 79% of North American automotive brands offered navigation in 2004.

Significant Growth Noted In North American Adoption Rate

The adoption rate is an important measure of market growth in the navigation industry. In calendar year 2002, navigation was offered as a feature on 18% of available vehicles in North America. The adoption rate climbed in 2003, with 21% of available vehicles offering navigation as a feature, and continued to grow in 2004 with navigation offered as a standard or optional feature on 37% of available vehicles.

  
   
   New Models Offering Navigation

Joining the 110 North American vehicle models already offering on board navigation, the 29 models that began offering navigation as a standard feature or option for the first time in 2004 included: BMW: 6-Series and X3; Cadillac STS; Chevrolet: Avalanche, Corvette, Tahoe, Suburban; Chrysler: Crossfire, Grand Caravan, PT Cruiser Cabrio, Jeep Liberty, Sebring, Sebring XJ, Sebring Sedan; Dodge: Magnum and Durango; Ford: Escape; Infiniti: QX56; Mazda: 3; Mercedes: SLK; Nissan: Altima and Titan; Pontiac: Grand Prix; Saab: 9-3 and 9-5; Toyota: Tundra and Sequoia; and Volvo: S40 and V50. As evidenced by the broad range of vehicles that added navigation in 2004, navigation is evolving from a feature once only available on luxury class vehicles to a feature now being offered across other light vehicle classes, most notably SUVs, mid-sized cars and light trucks.

In 1996, BMW and Acura were the first automotive brands to offer models with navigation systems in North America. By 2002, navigation was reaching critical mass in North America with 72 models offering navigation as an option or standard feature. In calendar year 2003, the industry continued to grow with the introduction of navigation on an additional 38 models, resulting in a total of 110 models offering navigation. In 2004, 139 North American vehicle models offered navigation as either standard or as an option.

"Navigation began as an option for luxury vehicles, and is becoming a more mainstream feature. As consumer awareness grows and consumers gain more experience with navigation systems, car companies are recognizing the value of making this feature more broadly available on their vehicle models, as evidenced by the increasing type and number of brands and models that continue to introduce navigation year after year," said Cliff Fox, Vice President & General Manager - North American Vehicle Business Unit. "Based on the trend we've seen in Japan and Europe, we anticipate that the adoption rate will continue to climb in the coming years."

About NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices and Internet-based mapping applications. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 1,600 employees located in 122 offices in 21 countries.

NAVTEQ is a trademark in the U.S. and other countries.