Consumer Boom in Portable Navigation Systems Presents Opportunities to Vehicle Manufacturers

DUBLIN, Ireland--Sept. 1, 2005--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c23503) has announced the addition of European Telematics: Market Trends and Analysis of Embedded and Portable Navigation Systems to their offering.

This new report analysing the navigation market and technology trends in Europe predicts that the market for portable equipment such as personal navigation devices (PNDs) and personal digital assistants (PDAs) will double between 2004 and 2005, while sales of built-in vehicle systems will increase by just 20 per cent. It concludes, however, that the soaring demand for portable systems gives vehicle manufacturers an opportunity to boost sales of OE embedded equipment to much higher levels.

It is believed that vehicle manufacturers can overcome the perceived threat from portable devices by turning the consumer awareness they have generated into an opportunity to increase customer uptake of embedded navigation systems. This will require a combined marketing and technical strategy to enable vehicle manufacturers to specify navigation as a standard feature within their model grade structures.

This report 'European Telematics: Market Trends and Analysis of Embedded and Portable Navigation Systems' shows that navigation system sales are set to top six million by the end of 2005, with around 10 per cent of new cars having the equipment fitted on the production line.

Typically factory-fit systems are offered as comparatively expensive options, or as standard features on higher grade premium models. This report suggests that significantly higher fitment rates could be achieved by 2008-2009 if car makers are prepared to meet the competition from the portable market by adding simple turn-by-turn systems to the standard feature list of more volume and premium models and by giving dealers better training in the advantages of embedded systems.

This research reveals how PNDs, which look good, are competitively priced and easy to use and offer a good range of features, are taking a larger share of the portable market than PDAs, which can be difficult to set up and install for in-vehicle use. As prices fall, PNDs are likely to claim an increasing share of portable sales in the next year to 18 months.

The report also looks at the off-board navigation services on offer in Europe, and considers their position in the future market for navigation in Europe.

Details of the comparative features and functions of embedded, aftermarket and portable systems are presented, together with charts of market growth and cost trends. The systems offered by principle vehicle manufacturers are also outlined, marque by marque.

Looking ahead to future technical developments, we predicts that the focus will be on enhanced map displays and graphics. This potential will come with the development of the first vehicle hard disc drive (HDD) systems.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c23503