GM Ups Navigation Ante with Two Free Map Upgrades

DETROIT--Jan. 1, 20063, 2006--In an as-yet unannounced move, General Motors is offering two free map upgrades for purchasers of vehicles with navigation systems. The offer is a first in the industry. With annual navigation map upgrades currently running $175 or more per map-loaded-DVD from most car makers, the GM offer is worth approximately $400 to buyers of GM vehicles who upgrade to integrated in-dash navigation systems.

"To say that GM is bending over backwards to sell cars in general and cars with navigation systems in particular is an understatement," said Phil Magney, principal analyst of Telematics Research Group. "But they're just throwing money away if they don't get out in front of customers and tell their story effectively."

GM is covering the entire cost of the upgrades. The offer has not been publicized, awaiting an anticipated announcement in May '06, according to sources at the company. The offer is spelled out on the window stickers on cars in dealer lots and on GM websites.

The offer may not be consistent across all GM makes and is not yet available to Saab customers. Buick customers may get one free year and a discounted second year, for example. Navigation upgrades are available on many, but not all GM models.

About TRG:

TRG (Telematics Research Group, Inc.) tracks and analyzes the automotive telematics, wireless, and entertainment sectors. TRG conducts a global telematics survey profiling the systems used in hundreds of production light vehicles and licenses this intelligence for competitive and market analysis.