OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it would open an office in the Detroit area to support current automotive OEM customers and develop new global business opportunities.
“This new office will expand our presence in the Detroit area and provide our present and future OEM customers with immediate, on-the-ground service,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “Garmin’s broad strengths and capabilities, including vertical integration, user interface design, track record for performance and reliability, combined with a rapid product development cycle already set Garmin apart from the competition. Having an office located at the hub of the automotive industry will only improve our ability to serve our global customers.”
Located in Novi, Michigan, the new office will support a dedicated staff of Garmin associates that specialize in automotive OEM sales, marketing, and engineering disciplines. The facility will include both offices and vehicle preparation facilities for product design, development and demonstration. The office is scheduled to open May 1, 2011.
Heading up the new office and leading Garmin’s overall automotive OEM business is industry veteran Matthew Munn, Garmin International vice president, managing director automotive OEM. With more than 25 years of experience in the high-growth, global automotive OEM business, Munn has deep cross-functional market knowledge of factory installed GPS-based digital infotainment systems. Munn will be responsible for all automotive OEM business activities, including the implementation of a cohesive brand, product, and technology marketing strategy to serve the worldwide automotive OEM market. Munn will report directly to Cliff Pemble.
“I was attracted to Garmin because their market breadth and brand reputation in the GPS industry is second to none; having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets they serve. Their capability and commitment to rapidly implement leading-edge connected technologies into the dashboard will result in high-performance system solutions that are both cost-effective to the OEM and useful to the driver,” said Munn. “Garmin is clearly making its automotive OEM business a strategic priority, and I am excited to join them and aggressively grow this business.”
Garmin provides a broad range of in-vehicle electronics for the automotive industry, including automotive grade infotainment and telematics systems, navigation software, location-based services, and integrated portable navigation systems. At the end of 2010, the independent research firm Canalys reported that Garmin is the global leader in the sale of portable navigation devices, with 38 percent market share.
Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 82 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Our innovative products span various areas of interest, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications.
About Garmin
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.