Navigation systems, a 10m-euro market

According to specialised retailers, the market of electronic automotive accessories is expected to reach almost 60 million euros this year, fuelled chiefly by the ever-growing demand for audio and satellite navigation systems. The market has seen a significant increase, with drivers showing more and more interest in devices that make it unnecessary to use maps whilst on the road, or to stop in unknown locations to ask for directions. The value of the market of navigation systems is doubling every year, with importers expecting to see 10 million-euro sales in 2007, an over 100% higher growth rate compared with last year. “We estimate the market will be worth almost 10 million euros, up by 80% against 2006, and we expect the most dynamic segment will be the middle-end segment (products with slightly above average prices),” said Bogdan Condurateanu, the domestic representative of the producer Garmin. Estimates put the number of units sold between 25,000 and 27,000, from a total market of 3.5 million cars.