Germany : HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR), said  it  delivering the first integrated navigation and infotainment systems with detailed Indian road maps. MapmyIndia, India’s leading provider of premium digital maps, navigation and location-based services, is supplying the map data for use in HARMAN infotainment systems. 

“We are delighted to offer, for the first time, a navigation and infotainment system incorporating India map content for our customers in the region,” said Sachin Lawande, HARMAN Chief Technology Officer and Co-President Automotive. “This further strengthens our global technology leadership in premium infotainment, and positions HARMAN to aggressively serve the fast-growing Indian automotive market.” 

“MapmyIndia is proud to work with HARMAN to deliver this premium, integrated navigation and map experience,” said Rakesh Verma, MapmyIndia, Managing Director. “We expect this close collaboration to result in exciting new innovations for the Indian automotive industry.” 

The navigation map data will include highly detailed street-level maps for some 900 Indian cities as well as national connectivity to over 574,000 towns and villages connected by over one million kilometers of highways and road network. The maps will also highlight some three million points of interest across 50 categories of attractions such as hotels, restaurants, ATMs, petrol pumps, etc. Map content will be updated every six months. 

The first vehicles to feature the detailed Indian navigation content, from luxury German automaker BMW, will be delivered in India by the end of 2010. Aftermarket upgrades to incorporate the Indian map solution in existing vehicles equipped with HARMAN infotainment systems are also planned.