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Published on December 4, 2007

Many companies are using the Thailand International Motor Expo 2007, which runs until next Monday, to launch their imported navigation products locally.

Zonic Vision yesterday introduced the Kamaz portable global positioning system (GPS) into the market. The hardware has been equipped with a local mapping application developed by ESRI.

Potential Enterprise yesterday announced the launch of the Priority PNA-T007 TH, an exclusive GPS-integrated navigation system. The company plans to become market leader next year.

Potential Enterprise managing director Somchai Mesangsorot said local demand for auto multimedia like VCDs and DVDs as well as navigation systems was expected to enjoy huge growth of more than 40 per cent next year.

The overall replacement market for multimedia systems is estimated to reach Bt150 million this year, of which 10 per cent will be shared by navigation systems.

"The GPS-integrated navigation system has become a practical gadget in the automobile industry today. We're confident the Priority PNA-T007 TH is definitely the best choice of driving-assistance equipment today," said Somchai.

He said the system had been equipped with Speed Navi software with easy-to-use and highly accurate functions. The application is based on ESRI's highly detailed geographical-information-system modelling and mapping software and technology, which can pinpoint more than 400,000 important places, including department stores and petrol stations.

"We expect to sell 500 units of the Priority PNA-T007 TH worth Bt24 million in next year's first quarter. With that target, we expect to become the market leader in car-navigation systems and have a share of more than 60 per cent of the market," said Somchai.

Somchai said the Garmin brand led the auto-navigation market in Thailand with a share of more than 85 per cent, followed by Kenwood and Panasonic.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

 The Nation