Magneti Marelli, the global automotive hi-tech systems and components supplier, announced today that it has been selected by BMW AG, together with the premium global audio and infotainment group HARMAN, to provide the next generation entry-level infotainment system for new vehicle platforms.
The new multimedia-driven system that will result from the technological contribution of Magneti Marelli and Harman to BMW, will offer a sophisticated set of features including navigation, brilliant graphics, Internet access and wired or wireless connectivity never before available in entry-level systems.
The new infotainment system will blend open-platform from Magneti Marelli with Harman connectivity and mobile office expertise to enable a broad range of premium in-vehicle infotainment and connectivity applications. System features will include iSpeech, wireless connectivity, mobile office, navigation, and advanced telematics. Magneti Marelli will produce and deliver the infotainment modules for BMW vehicles in the European markets and Harman will serve the Asian markets.
“We are proud to be the system integrator of an important program and to contribute with our specific experience in automotive electronics. Moreover, the development in partnership with Harman represents an important evolution in the approach to the customer” – stated Eugenio Razelli, CEO of Magneti Marelli. “This project sets up a new era, with the adoption of the open platform for infotainment solutions, which is an effective answer to the evolution of market’s, carmakers’ and customers’ needs and to the challenges of future mobility”.
The new system will leverage Magneti Marelli deep and specific automotive know-how in integrating complex systems and technologies for the vehicle “environment”. It will also take advantage of Magneti Marelli’s expertise concerning “open software” platforms for Infotainment & Telematics applications, field in which the company has been a fore runner in its approach to the technology and to the market.
The platform will feature a compact, cost-competitive computing solution built on the NVIDIA® system-on-a-chip (SOC) technology for scalable microprocessor power and graphic performance.
HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of 3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.