Blaupunkt and Kenwood Plan Cooperation: Partnership in Portable Navigation, Innovative Features for Globally Usable Devices

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blaupunkt, Hildesheim, a company belonging to the Bosch group, and the Japanese electronics corporation, Kenwood Corporation, Tokyo, are currently planning to form a partnership in the field of Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs). After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two companies are now launching their cooperation for portable navigation devices.

Blaupunkt and Kenwood are leading suppliers in the field of car audio and car multimedia systems. By bundling these key competences, the two companies aim to supply navigation devices that are easy to operate and include innovative, attractive features for different regional markets.

Starting in 2008, the devices co-developed by the two companies will be offered by each of the two partners individually on the rapidly growing market segment of portable navigation. Blaupunkt and Kenwood both plan to use this cooperation to continue to expand their competence as leading providers of portable navigation systems.

Blaupunkt, a company belonging to the Bosch Group, is an internationally leading manufacturer of driver information systems, car radios, car speakers and vehicle antennas. Blaupunkt has its main headquarters in Hildesheim, Germany, and maintains other production sites in Portugal, Hungary, Tunisia and Malaysia. The company posted sales of more than Euro 1.4 billion in fiscal year 2006 and employs more than 9,000 people worldwide.

Company URL: http://www.bosch-presse.de

About Kenwood Corporation

Kenwood celebrated the 60th anniversary last December with 11 domestic and 22 overseas subsidiaries around the world and is aiming to become a global excellent company in the field of “Mobile & Home Multimedia Systems” with its core competencies in the car electronics, home electronics and communications technologies under the new corporate vision – “Reaching out to discover, inspire and enhance the enjoyment of life.”

Head office: Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan

Number of Employees: 4436

Company URL: http://www.Kenwood.com

Kenwood Corporate Information

Founded in 1961, Kenwood USA Corporation is a leading developer and manufacturer of audio and video products for home, car, and personal use. Offering more than 250 products, Kenwood is one of the three largest selling brands of audio and video entertainment products in the United States and is recognized by consumers and the consumer electronics industry for providing superior quality, reliability and value.

Kenwood Communications, based in Suwanee, GA, established in 1983, maintains a leadership position in North and South America for mobile and portable two-way radios and custom systems. Clients include prominent federal, state and local government agencies and first responders and private industry including manufacturing, contracting, security, hospitality and education. Kenwood USA Corporation, based in Long Beach, Calif., is the largest subsidiary of Kenwood Corporation (Japan).