Garmin Expands Relationship with Suzuki, Provides Navigation to Grand Vitara, SX4 and Equator Model

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation,  announced today that its automotive OEM division will provide an integrated navigation system for the new 2010 model year Suzuki Grand Vitara, Suzuki SX4 and Suzuki Equator.  Expanding upon previous success, this new program will debut with the 2010 model year Grand Vitara – the most affordable SUV on the market that will include GPS as standard equipment.  This is the second model year Garmin has been selected as standard equipment for the Suzuki SX4 Sport. 

“Garmin is delighted to continue to work with Suzuki to offer its customers industry leading navigation that boasts easy-to-use menus and dynamic real-time content and services with stylish built-for-the-vehicle installation,” said Roger Jollis, Garmin’s director of OEM and mobile marketing.  “Building upon the success of last year’s program, we’re confident Suzuki customers will benefit from the premium features offered in this built-in navigation system.”

The navigation system offered with the Suzuki Grand Vitara and SX4 are based on the popular nüvi 765 and includes a fully integrated mount that allows for elegant mounting inside the vehicle, but also makes it easy-to-remove for adventures on foot.  The T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play) comes preloaded with maps of North America, and sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen display with nearly six million points of interest (POI) such as restaurants, hotels, ATMs, gas stations and more.  In addition, Suzuki is enhancing the unit’s POI database by adding a number of lifestyle-oriented, Suzuki-recommended destinations and landmarks that will be clearly marked with a Suzuki “Way of Life” icon on the navigation screen.  The unit is also customized with a preloaded database of Suzuki dealerships nationwide. 

The Suzuki T.R.I.P. also features lane assist with junction view so drivers will see a realistic presentation of road signs and junctions along the route, as well as arrows that guide drivers to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit.  The system also offers other premium navigation features such as ecoRoute™, which enables the Suzuki nüvi to calculate a more fuel-efficient route, helping to ease growing pressures on personal budgets and the environment.

To enjoy even more enhanced location information, customers may choose to expand on the standard Garmin navigation system that comes with the Suzuki Grand Vitara and SX4 with next-generation dynamic content from the MSN Direct network so that users can check flight status, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, and look up weather forecasts, enhanced movie listings, stock prices, news and local events.  To avoid distraction, drivers can also pair many Bluetooth®-enabled phones with the device for hands-free calling.  The T.R.I.P. system also features an MP3 player that is integrated into the audio system for a seamless user experience and stereo sound.

The Suzuki Equator will offer a nüvi 700-series model that includes turn-by-turn voice prompted directions, preloaded POIs to millions of destinations, and Bluetooth for hands-free calling.  It does not include lane assist, junction view, MSN Direct features or ecoRoute.

2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara, SX4 and Equator models are scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms this fall.