Pioneer Corp Launches New Car Audio Systems

In-car entertainment manufacturer Pioneer Corporation today launched car audio systems specially customised to cater to tech-savvy Indian market.

The Japan-based company launched a new five stellar in-car entertainment systems in the Indian market with the price range of Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,990.

The system connect with a wide range of external digital audio devices, including MP3 players and iPods.

"India is an extremely important and a strategic market for Pioneer, having domestic market of more than one million new cars. Exclusive product lines launched today will help us extend our leadership position in the Indian in-car entertainment market,"

Pioneer Corporation Managing Director Akira Haeno told reporters here.

He said the company is targeting to sell about two lakh units of the new products by the end of next year.

"The company is targeting both the original manufacturers and consumers markets to garner a prominent position in the in-car entertainment segment,"

he added.

The new products will be distributed by Autocop India. The entire range of Pioneer in-car entertainment products including audio units, amplifiers and speakers will be sold through the retail network of over 3,000 dealers and serviced by 67 contact points.

Source: TradingMarkets.com

Industry Reaction Mixed On Pioneer - Sharp Partnership

Industry executives offered mixed opinion on the merits of Sharp's investment and co-development deal with Pioneer.

The pact, announced late last month, calls for Sharp to take a majority 14.3 percent stake in Pioneer for $357.3 million, and for the manufacturers to combine their expertise to jointly develop products in audio, car electronics, displays, next-generation DVDs and network-related in-home electronics applications.

Fumio Ohtsubo, president of Matsushita Electric Industrial, marketer of the Panasonic brand worldwide, empathized with the partners.

"As you know, competition in CE is very, very, very severe,"

he acknowledged last week while attending CEATEC Japan 2007.

"In Japan there are eight major players. Recently these players are focusing on their strong points. Japanese players are focusing on what they do best ... which is good."

Joel Blank, executive VP of CE distributor BDI-Laguna, concurred that strategic partnerships have become a necessity in today's CE market.

"Trends and market changes emerge very quickly and no single organization is equipped to handle those changes alone. That's why all types of partnerships are essential to succeed,"

he said.

"Sharp and Pioneer are going to build on each other's success with this alliance,"

Blank continued.

"We think that this type of collaboration is good for the whole industry, with distribution playing a key role in spotting shifts in consumer buying habits, understanding markets, and partnering to make the whole customer experience the best it can be. That's what we do with our customers today, and with a Sharp-Pioneer alliance producing the products the market wants, it could be an outstanding combination."

Full news: Twice.com

Pioneer to Exhibit In-car Technologies at TOKYO MOTOR SHOW 2007

Pioneer Corporation will be showcasing its latest in-car technologies and products under the theme, "Feel the Next Stage - a new generation of emotional experience," at the 47th Tokyo Motor Show 2007 which will be held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture from Saturday, October 27 through Sunday November 11.

The Pioneer booth will feature the "Smart-Loop" stage presentation for the innovative in-car life offered by the latest car navigation systems, the Mobile Entertainment zone, and the R&D zone.

1. Pioneer Car Navigation Systems

The latest lineup of the CYBER NAVI and the RAKU NAVI car navigation systems, realizing its Smart Loop concept - the core vision for its next-generation car navigation systems - will be introduced.

Main exhibited products:

• CYBER NAVI car navigation systems (AVIC-VH099G, etc.)
• RAKU NAVI car navigation systems (AVIC-HRZ009G, etc.)
• Bluetooth adaptor

2. Pioneer In-car A/V Systems

In this zone, the audience will enjoy a variety of Pioneer car audio systems through hands-on exhibits.

Main exhibited products:

• Audio/Video main units (AVH-P900DVA, DEH-P910, FH-P520MD, etc.)
• Power amplifiers (PRS-D7100, etc.)
• Car speaker systems (TS-CX900, etc.)
• iPod adaptor

3. Pioneer R&D

In the R&D zone, part of Pioneer's R&D activities will be introduced covering the in-car entertainment technologies. Visitors will have a peep at the future of in-car equipment...

Full story: ITNews.it

Pioneer Launches New HDD-based Car Navigation Systems "CYBER NAVI" in Japan

Tokyo (JCNN) - Pioneer announced a new HDD-based navigation system for the Japanese market on May 11 - "Pioneer CYBER NAVI"

The Pioneer AVIC-ZH990MD and AVIC-ZH990 are 2DIN-type DSP-control AV navigation auto servers with a built-in 7-inch wide touch-screen TV. The Pioneer AVIC-XH990 is a 1DIN-type navigation auto server with an on-dash 7-inch wide touch-screen TV. The AVIC-H990 is a 1DIN-type navigation auto server (without a monitor).

The suggested retail prices are 367,500 yen, 346,500 yen, 304,500 yen, and 210,000 yen, respectively.

Pioneer first introduced the Agent function in 2003 into its HDD-based Cyber Navi car navigation systems, a new concept in car navigation that automatically tracked and stored the preferences and driving/operating patterns of individual drivers.

In the 2004 Cyber Navi lineups, the company realized a high-class combination of navigation, audio and video functions by adding innovative new functions such as Traffic Congestion Forecast and Feeling Play.

In the 2005 Cyber Navi models, Pioneer has further advanced the Agent feature by adopting new functions, such as On-demand VICS and Route Equalizer, and upgrading the removable Brain Uni.

he new Brain Unit employs PC Link function, which enables users to connect the Brain Unit to their PC and transfer the stored music tracks or location data found on the website to the Brain Unit at home, further enhancing home-use convwith the the new systems...