THE AUDI A8 NAVIGATES WITH NAVTECH DATA

The new Audi A8 navigation system relies on DVD technology.

Navigation Technologies - a leading provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation, Internet/wireless applications and business solutions - is supplying digital map data for the new electronic Multi Media Interface (MMI) operator system in the Audi A8. The compact system provides the user with a clearly structured and easy means to access each element, such as radio, CD changer, navigation system or phone.

The Audi A8 introduces the DVD as the navigation system storage medium. It provides nine times the storage capacity of a traditional CD-ROM which eliminates cumbersome CD changes within Europe. The disk contains NAVTECH data for Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Vatican State.

Luxury saloon with comprehensive navigation data

The NAVTECH data on the DVD provides information on around 3.9 million kilometres of road as well as 430,000 points of interest (POIs) such as hotels, restaurants, and service stations. This enables direct routing and access to important and helpful information. Thanks to Traffic Message Channel (TMC), even dynamic guidance is not a problem for travel throughout Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The driver receives continuously updated traffic information and the system shows an alternative route if necessary. The full range of information can be retrieved in six different languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

"For our new premium sports model, our focus is on quality, and this also extends to the map data. The high standard of NAVTECH data convinced us. In view of the increasing importance of navigation capabilities, we are cooperating with Navigation Technologies," says Werner P. Roeser, Product and Technology Communications, of AUDI AG and quattro GmbH.

"We are very pleased that Audi uses our data for its new flagship car. This will further strengthen our position as the leading provider of digital navigable geodata in the automotive industry. In addition, using the DVD technology, we can offer the end customer a high additional value in terms of navigation," explains Ralf Duengen, Sales Director for the Automotive Industry in Europe, Navigation Technologies.

Industry partners such as Aisin-AW, Alpine, Borg Instruments, Bosch/Blaupunkt, Clarion, Destinator, Grundig, Harman Becker, Magneti Marelli, Panasonic, Pioneer or Siemens VDO/VDO Dayton produce the terminal devices for the operation of the digital databases. Automotive manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Citroen, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Saab or Volvo equip their navigation systems in the factory with the digital NAVTECH database as standard equipment. The company also serves the providers of all North American and nearly all European Internet maps, mobile network providers, and travel planners with NAVSTREETS. This includes e.g. AOL/MapQuest, DDS, Expedia, Garmin International, Intelliwhere, Mappy Microsoft, Rand McNally, Motorola, Nokia, PTV, Shell Geostar, Vicinity, Vodafone-Passo, and Webraska.