NAVTEQ Partners With Mercedes-Benz

Anthony Fontanelle
September 6, 2007

In the world of the auto industry, technological features are considered as strong selling points for a particular vehicle. With consumers now focusing on comfort and convenience, automakers are continually coming up with ways to appease their consumers. Digital maps are popular among car buyers because it is an invaluable tool in finding a certain place without the hassle of reading a roadmap which requires you to pull over.

Recently, NAVTEQ, a leading provider of digital maps, announced that their NAVTEQ Traffic Radio Data System is now a standard lifetime feature on all 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and CL-Class units. This is the first time that an automaker provides satellite navigation as standard features. It is common for automakers to offer these features for a subscription. And Mercedes-Benz' lifetime service is an industry-leading feature. Units of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the CL-Class are now available at Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the country.

NAVTEQ provides real-time traffic reposts to consumers. Aside from the flow of traffic, NAVTEQ also delivers real-time report of incidents and construction data. Any scheduled roadwork will be relayed to a consumer thus allowing him or her, to choose a route that will not be affected by the construction. Real-time accident reports are also great help to motorists who are looking to avoid traffic congestion. The date provided by this feature will help motorists plan their route before going on the road.

Bernard Glaser, the general manger for Product Management for Mercedes-Benz United States of America or MBUSA, has this to say: "Mercedes-Benz is pleased to offer NAVTEQ Traffic RDS as a standard navigation feature on the 2008 S-Class and CL-Class. NAVTEQ's accurate, timely, and personally relevant traffic information will give our customers a distinct navigation advantage and a greater sense of control in selecting the most efficient routes based on traffic conditions."

With features like this, it will be easier for motorists to find their way through a strange neighborhood faster than finding a store selling Hummer air filters online. Mercedes-Benz' sales for the month of August jumped and with this additional feature, it will not be surprising if sales of the German automaker continue to rise.

NAVTEQ's Vice President of Dynamic Content Services has this to say about the partnership: "Mercedes-Benz's selection of our Traffic RDS service marks another milestone for NAVTEQ Traffic, which leads the market in real-time traffic information delivery to in-vehicle navigation systems via satellite and RDS communication technologies. NAVTEQ has a long-standing business relationship with Mercedes-Benz, and we are proud to extend our services to include this valuable offering to their customers."

Last month, Mercedes-Benz posted its best sales for the month in their lengthy history. This is evidence that Mercedes-Benz' success in the United States continues. Last year, the North America arm of the German automaker posted its highest sales output for a year. The partnership can be considered as a perfect union since both companies will benefit from the partnership. But ultimately, consumers will also be benefited by the working relationship between the two companies.

Source:  Amazines.com