PN70, from mainland China's SEG, is a portable navigator with 3.5in TFT LCD.

Current trends include bigger displays, larger storage capacities, A/V functions, touchscreen feature and built-in patch antenna.

The export business of in-car GPS manufacturers in mainland China is relatively young, with mass production beginning only in the latter part of 2005. Of the estimated 10 active makers on the mainland, only five have mass production capabilities.

Taiwan makers, meanwhile, are enhancing the functions of their products to gain market share. Wireless communications are being added. Units with ITS, GSM and CDMA functions are being developed.

Prices are projected to decrease in Q4 2006.

	CA4002, from Coagent of mainland China, has a 7in color touchscreen panel and 64MB SDRAM.

Aspect design, function integration and memory card formats comprise the top R&D priorities of mainland China manufacturers. Trends include 3.5in display, 320x240-pixel resolution and touchscreen.

Current in-car GPS products from mainland China companies support 16 to 20 channels and work with Microsoft Windows CE.Net 4.2. Most of them are equipped with 32MB or 64MB flash and SDRAM memory. An SD slot is usually provided for additional memory requirement. Other models have CF card slots for storing map data.

Central Pacific Electronics Shenzhen Ltd, established in 1991, has released the GP78 in H1 2006. The unit features a 3.5in color TFT touchscreen display with a 320x240- pixel resolution. It has built-in MCX or SMA RF connector and adopts dual 32-bit RISC processor. The unit measures 100x87x59mm and weighs only 0.267kg.

Central Pacific plans to release new models with MP3, Bluetooth and GSM functions within the next six months. Its GP98 series is being developed with MP3 format support.

Shenzhen SEG Scientific Navigations Co. Ltd released model PN70, an in-car GPS product that has 3.5in 65,000- color TFT touchscreen display with a 320x240-pixel resolution. The model adopts a 266MHz Samsung processor and an MCX or SMA RF connector. It has a built-in Ublox GPS chipset. The model is equipped with a 64MB flash memory and a 64MB SDRAM. The unit measures 97x74x56mm and has an operating temperature of -10º to 60º Celsius. The company also has models that support MP3 format.

Meanwhile, Coagent Electronics S&T Co. Ltd launched the CA4002, an in-car GPS with a 7in LCD. The display has a resolution of 1400x234 pixels. The CA4002 is based on Intel's 400MHz CPU using Microsoft Windows CE.Net 4.2. It has a 64MB SDRAM and a 32MB flash memory. Its map data is in the CF card storage. It is built on a highly sensitive chipset and has an external 50x50mm GPS receiver antenna. The unit measures 200x108x23mm and weighs less than 1kg.

Since domestic makers now adopt similar GPS chipset projects, the basic features of GPS modules are almost the same, such as 9sec hot start, 38sec warm start, 43sec cold start, 100ms satellite re-acquisition time accuracy, less than 60,000ft altitude and about 3m position accuracy. The average lead time to develop a new model among makers is about three months.

	Iter Networking's NS4001, from Taiwan, uses SiRF Star III chipset and comes with a computing platform for GPS navigation.

Demand for telematics systems and devices has seen a notable growth in recent years. According to Tech Resource Group (TRG), a provider of customized learning/training solutions, the production value of car-related telematics devices is estimated to reach $22 million in 2010. The market of car communication services is expected to grow to $14.4 million in 2008. According to the Market Intelligence Center (MIC), Taiwan exported more than 3.7 million units of GPS PDA devices in 2005.

Popular telematics products in Taiwan include portable GPS devices such as GPS PDAs for car application, which was very popular in 2005.

ITer Networking Corp.'s NS-4001 is an all-in-one car navigator with an MP3 player, a digital phone and a built-in patch antenna. The model is based on a SiRF star III chipset and has an embedded 4in TFT-LCD panel with touch screen. The model is compatible with Microsoft Windows CE.NET 4.2 core version. The portable device can be car-mounted. It is equipped with an AMD 400MHz processor, a 32MB flash memory and a 64MB SDRAM. Map software is generally provided via an SD card.

ITer Networking can support maps from the United States, Canada and Western Europe with voice commands. Languages supported include English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch and Italian. The built-in GPS receiver supports 20 satellite channels and comes with a built-in patch antenna. The device measures 147x88x37mm and weighs 280g. The unit comes with a mini USB and a 3.5mm DIA stereo earphone jack.

Auto Vision Inc. also released a car GPS, model GPS050P. The standalone product features a 5in TFT-LCD panel with SiRF Star III solution, touch screen, built-in antenna, and external A/V input. The unit's functions include instant route calculation; multimethod search for address, facility, or pointof- interest; automatic calculation on driving distance and time, voice navigation and warning, and easy switching and updating of e-map. Other unit specifications are removable and adjustable design for indoor/vehicle use, and extra A/V input for rearview CCD camera or portable DVD player.

Altech Auto Security Co. Ltd's AOT9500 is a multifunction car navigator with built-in TV tuner. The product also features DVD player display, two composite video output and 2ch stereo output, and built-in 2W speaker. The integrated monitor features 16:9 wide screen.

An estimated 10 or more mainland China makers claim to produce all types of in-car GPS devices, but only about five manufacturers have mass production operations. With the cost of technology acquisition getting cheaper and the automotive industry in the mainland getting bullish, more new makers are expected to enter the in-car GPS industry. The Pearl River Delta in South China, Xi'an and Bejing are the major production and R &D hubs of the industry.

Most mainland makers have monthly capacities of 10,000 to 20,000 units of in-car GPS products. Makers are expecting large-volume orders to arrive in 2006.

Most of the companies are R &D- and marketing-oriented. They handle general assembly, testing, aging, repairing, QC and packaging in-house, and subcontract major production procedures-mold making, SMT and plastic injection-to professional electronics factories.

Central Pacific produces handheld GPS products, car GPS devices, GPS modules, GPS navigation devices, GPS tracking devices and GPS antennas. The company was among the first to undertake mass production of GPS products in mainland China. The company has exported more than 200,000 car GPS devices. The company assembles and produces its own GPS modules after importing key GPS components. Thus, it can supply GPS modules to other manufacturers in the line. The company also maintains R &D and marketing teams in the United Kingdom.

Shenzhen SEG Scientific is one of the largest GPS manufacturers, and the largest GPS monitor network operator, in mainland China. Shenzhen Electronics Group Co. Ltd (SEG), a listed company on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is the umbrella group of Shenzhen SEG Scientific. SEG began developing GPS products in 1994, ahead of other makers in the line, and established Shenzhen SEG Scientific in 1999. The company's product scope now includes GPS applications, GPS software, TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems) and other automotive electronic products. Most of its GPS products are in-car models. The company runs a GPS monitor service network on the mainland.

Coagent mainly develops and produces in-car monitors and A/V systems. Established in 1998, the company began R &D work on in-car GPS devices in May 2003. In July 2005, it released its first integrated GPS device set, which includes a plain GPS receiver with IrDA remote control, the OS platform, and a mainland China-focused software package. In the next six months, the company plans to release a new in-car GPS with built-in DVD player, AM/FM radio tuner and MP3 player.

Taiwan makers are developing more functions for their current products to enhance their saleability in the market. Wireless communication functions, mainly for WLAN and WiMAX standards, are expected to become popular in the future. Some Taiwan suppliers have also been developing intelligent transportation system (ITS) products. Some companies have been working with car manufacturers to provide telematics devices that can support GPS, WLAN, GSM and CDMA services.

Altech is a Taiwan-based company, established in 1986, which produces car alarm systems. The company founded its car entertainment department at the end of 2004, and has manufactured car monitors and car TVs since 2005. At present, the company's main products include car alarms, remote engine starters and car TVs/monitors. Altech is a project-oriented company and OEM services represent 60 percent of its sales. The company also carries two in-house brands, namely, Maat and AOT. AOT is the brand name for Altech's car entertainment products, and Maat is used for car alarm systems.

Altech's factory is equipped with two SMT machines and two production lines. It has a production capacity of 80,000 units per month. The company is capable of conducting cosmetic design, SMT, PCB sub-assembly, final assembly and QC in-house. The company is set to invest more than $100,000 to prepare for RoHS compliance, which is expected to result in 5 percent to 7 percent increase in manufacturing cost. Altech is scheduled to pass RoHS requirements this year.

Auto Vision, founded in 2002, produces car PCs, car TVs/monitors, car TV systems with GPS and DVB receivers. It also produces CCD rearview cameras and car accessories, such as headphone kits, multivideo amplifiers and TV tuners. The company now employs 50 people. Ninety percent of sales come from the export business.

Auto Vision has two subcontracted manufacturing sites. One is near the company's headquarters in Taoyuan Hsien, and the other is in Shenzhen, mainland China. Entry-level products, such as car monitors, are produced in mainland China. High-end products, such as GPS systems and car PCs, are manufactured in Taiwan. Auto Vision's production capacity can go up to 10,000 units per month. Most manufacturing processes are subcontracted, including mold making, plastic injection and SMT. R &D and QC, however, are done in-house.

Prices in mainland China are mainly dictated by the difference in GPS chipset, display type and size, functions, capacity of SDRAM or flash memory, and aspect design. Basic in-car GPS devices that feature 3.5in touchscreen display is priced from $120 to $150. Units with 3.5in LCD and MP3 function are priced from $130 to $155. Models with 4.3in touchscreen displays, 7in touchscreen LCDs or units that integrate MP3, Bluetooth, GSM and PMP functions have FOB prices ranging from $160 to $280.

Makers forecast that the prices of midrange and low-end models will decrease by 10 percent to 20 percent because of stiff competition.

In Taiwan, Bluetooth GPS receivers are generally priced about $50 per unit, FOB. Automatic vehicle locator (AVL) devices are priced about $200 per unit, FOB. Some portable GPS navigators with LCD panel for car application may sell for $250 and higher, depending on whether these provide GPS navigation only or have other functions like MP3 player and flash memory card reader.

The latest hot-selling PDAs with GPS are generally priced at $260 per unit. The price can go up to $400 or more per unit as they are added more refined PDA functions, GSM/3G mobile communication, and other functions.

Most Taiwan-based suppliers of in-car GPS products dropped prices due to competition. They are also forced to develop products with more functions to increase the attractiveness of their models.

All interviewed companies on the mainland claiGPS chipsets and modules from Nemerix, U-blox and SiRF Star. LCDs are sourced from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Some of the interviewed makers have already contacted leading international digital map suppliers, such as NAVTEQ and TA.

Makers attend international trade events that showcase automobile electronics, such as CES, AAPEX, Hong Kong Electronics Show and CeBIT. Countries in North and South America, the European Union, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are the major target export markets.