VDO Car Communication Leads Way in North America
20 October 1998
VDO Car Communication Leads Way in North America With BMW and Land Rover Introductions
Convergence 1998
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 20 -- Developed in partnership with
engineers from the BMW Group, VDO Car Communication and Navigation
Technologies, innovative navigation systems are leading the way towards
Intelligent Transportation System deployment in the U.S. Now in the third
model year since its U.S. introduction, VDO's CARiN(TM) (Car Navigation and
Information System) works in conjunction with Navigation Technologies' map
database. The database, stored on CD, and CARiN software provide drivers with
reliable turn-by-turn directions to destinations throughout North America as
well as desirable information and guidance to restaurants, hotels, tourist
attractions, and many other points of interest.
In 1996, BMW of North America introduced its comprehensive and advanced
On-Board Navigation System to the USA as a factory installed option on the 5 &
7 Series. For the 1999 model year, BMW extends this offering to its new 3
Series sedans. This option becomes standard on the 1999 750iL while its
option price on the 3, 5 & 7 Series models is reduced to below $2,000. A
database CD and its first update is included with the option.
The On-Board Navigation System is the only offering in the U.S. that:
- covers all 48 states on just seven CDs;
- combines emergency communications* plus its own on-board generated
visual and audible directions in both turn-by-turn and color map
display formats;
- combines functions and controls for entertainment (audio system),
security (code and emergency*), ventilation, voice recognition
telephone* and GPS-navigation within a central large color display
using a single easy-to-use push/turn knob; and,
- offers regular updates for system software and databases in convenient
CD format.
BMWs equipped with the system offer owners added peace-of-mind and
comfort. For example, with the push of a knob after selecting "Emergency" or
"Assist," the system transmits the vehicle's location, cell phone number, and
VIN to a specially trained representative in the fully equipped BMW Response
Center, which functions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.* The in-vehicle
system then automatically switches to voice communications and the
representative quickly assesses the situation and promptly dispatches
emergency or roadside assistance to the vehicle's precise location.
The representative can then stay on the line to assist the driver arrange
alternate transportation or suitable lodging. Service monitoring for four-
years/50,000-miles is provided to the customer at no additional charge.
* When equipped with the mobile CMT5000VR or portable CPT6000VR
integrated voice recognition telephone, standard on 750iL, optional on all
other vehicles.
Systems are also available from BMW of North America authorized centers as
dealer-installed options for customers who wish to install navigation
capabilities in an existing vehicle or purchase a new vehicle that did not
come factory-equipped with this option.
BMW Canada will offer the On-board Navigation System to its Canadian
customers this fall, due to the availability of a comprehensive database of
the greater Toronto area from Navigation Technologies. The coverage area will
expand through 1999 to include other major Canadian cities such as Vancouver
and Montreal. This system will be standard on the 750iL and optional on the
323i, 328i, 528i, 540i, 740i, and 740iL models.
Navigation for On and Off Road Vehicles
Land Rover North America has introduced on the Range Rover its JAMES
system, the first integrated navigation system in a sports utility vehicle.
The Journey Assistance and Mapping Exploration System -- JAMES -- is the new
GPS satellite navigation option from Land Rover that personally guides the
driver to a desired destination. The multi-faceted JAMES is integrated into
the center console of the dashboard and is compatible with the vehicle's
sophisticated electronic systems.
"Land Rover vehicles always have had the capability to take their
occupants far off the beaten path," said Mark Schirmer, corporate
communications manager of Land Rover North America in Lanham, Md. "JAMES is
fully integrated into the dash fascia and features scaleable maps, turn-by-
turn directions and audible commands with a distinctly British accent. And,
JAMES is simple to use. The destination is entered by using one easily
controlled turn and push knob that acts much like a computer mouse. Two
additional buttons encourage JAMES to repeat his last audible instructions or
to plan an alternate route around traffic, construction or an accident."
JAMES is available for all Range Rovers produced since 1995, retailing for
$2,895. The price includes two regional CD-ROM map discs and the first map
update, to be offered bi-annually. JAMES is covered by a full four-
year/50,000-mile limited warranty when installed prior to vehicle delivery, or
by a one year unlimited mileage warranty when installed by an authorized Land
Rover Center after initial delivery.
VDO and NavTech -- Technology Leaders
"JAMES and the BMW On-Board Navigation System are both self-contained
navigation and information systems that utilize a digitized map database,"
explained Francis J. Dance, a business manager for VDO Car Communication.
"Regional maps for the 48 contiguous states are contained on seven CD-ROM
discs along with data for more than 400,000 destinations such as banks,
hotels, restaurants, service stations, tourist attractions and the BMW and
Land Rover North America centers."
The database, created by Navigation Technologies, covers major highways
and county roads as well as providing complete door-to-door route guidance and
mapping of major metropolitan areas from Boston to San Diego and from Detroit
to Miami. A new offering is an eighth CD covering the greater Toronto area,
extending the suitability of this offering into the Canadian market.
"The building of the NAVTECH database is an ongoing process," said Mike
Walsh, president of Navigation Technologies North America. "We estimate that
our team of full-time cartographers drive more than a million kilometers every
year to update and test the quality of our database against real world
demands."
VDO Car Communication manufactures the CD-ROM player and navigation
computer that is discreetly mounted in the cargo area of the vehicles. The
computer features an eight-channel Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver
and integrated gyroscope, thus enabling the unit to determine the vehicle's
location anywhere in the world. The GPS antenna receives signals from up to
eight of the 24 geosynchronous GPS satellites located 11,000 miles above the
earth's surface to determine the vehicle's location.
Using a combination of dead reckoning from the gyro and other vehicle
sensors, plus the data received from the GPS satellites, the computer
calculates the best route to a destination. The system then displays --
audibly and visibly -- the best way to reach the destination on an adjustable
scale color map for a close-up or general overview of the location. An icon
is continuously updated to show the vehicle's position on the map. Turn-by-
turn instructions are generated as accurate illustrations of the upcoming
intersection, showing the current and upcoming street names.
All information is displayed on a large color active matrix liquid crystal
display (LCD) located high in the center console area of the dashboard.
"The driver quickly and easily enters a destination before a journey,
selects guidance, and then listens to the system's audio instructions while en
route, occasionally glancing at the pictograms of upcoming intersections as
needed. The systems give plenty of advance notice of upcoming turns," said
Dance.
The user controls the navigation system's route planning activities by
choosing "least or most use of highways," "shortest distance" or "shortest
time." If the driver diverts from the planned route, CARiN automatically
recalculates a new route based on the vehicle's present position. Or, by
pushing just one button, the driver can request CARiN plan a one-to-six mile
intentional detour around the originally planned route.
In an emergency, the vehicle's exact location will be shown on the LCD by
city and street name, as well as its latitude/longitude coordinates. The
driver then makes a toll-free call to BMW's Roadside Assistance service, Land
Rover's 24-hour Road Recovery(SM) network or to the appropriate local
emergency services (e.g., 911), communicates the screen information, and help
will be on the way. This feature is included in all systems, with or without
an integrated cellular phone.
About the Companies
BMW of North America and BMW Canada, Inc. operate under the umbrella of
BMW (US) Holding Corp., headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Land Rover North America, Inc. is a member of the Rover Group of
Companies, importing vehicles manufactured by Land Rover, based in Solihull,
England. The Rover Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BMW Group,
Munich, Germany.
VDO Car Communication is a division of VDO North America. VDO North
America is a subsidiary of the VDO Group based in Schwalbach, Germany,
operating as a division of the Mannesmann Automotive Group. VDO has more than
30 manufacturing plants worldwide and annual sales of more than $2.3 billion.
Navigation Technologies Corporation (NAVTECH) is a global company
recognized as the premier supplier of superior quality, continuously updated
route guidance map databases for both North America and Europe. The NAVTECH
database contains an extensive and precise digital representation of the road
network that provides the depth, accuracy and coverage needed to enable turn-
by-turn, door-to-door route guidance.
Applications using the NAVTECH database include in-vehicle navigation
products, fleet management systems, personal navigation products, web sites
and on-line services, kiosk-based directions, advanced traffic and traveler
information systems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
NAVTECH is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., with additional offices in
Sunnyvale, Calif., and Best, The Netherlands. In addition, NAVTECH has a
customer support center in Yokohama, Japan and more than 70 field offices and
950 employees worldwide.
For additional information on NAVTECH, please visit its web site at
http://www.navtech.com. For additional information on VDO, please visit its
web site at http://www.vdo.com. For additional information on BMW of North
America, please visit its web site at http://www.bmwusa.com. For additional
information on Land Rover North America, please visit its web site at
http://www.best4x4.landrover.com.