Nippon Audio introduces navigation device

Nippon Audiotronics, the Indian franchisee of Kenwood car audio systems has announced the launch of SatGuide, a touchscreen navigation device mainly targeted at the car users across India.

The device will help drivers quickly locate their destination without taking their hands off the steering wheel, or eyes off the road.

The company's managing director K S Goindi told Business Standard that the product is relevant in the wake of the increasingly complex traffic patterns in the Indian cities.

"The device uses Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with smart sensors to ensure the required accuracy. The in-built GPS receivers get signals from the orbiting GPS satellites to ascertain the exact position of the vehicle," Goindi explained.

The relevent location map then appears on the screen of the device, which has a voice guide too, he added. "The device is built-in with a comprehensive data on points of interest, public utilities, emerging services like hospitals and entertainment locations such as multiplexes or malls," he said.

Goindi said the company has acquired the digital roadmaps from Hyderabad-based Sat Map Technologies and software from Destinator, Canada while the physical device is supplied by Mayo of Taiwan.

SatGuide, priced at Rs 37,990, has been introduced in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai; in the second round, it will be introduced in Pune, Bangalore and Chennai.

"These are the cities in India that are witnessing significant influx of young professionals and the landscape there is also changing thanks to increasing construction activity," he pointed out.

The company is looking at selling about 1,000 units of SatGuide per month. in the initial stage and sees a major growth in the second year, he said.