Delphi New Mobile MultiMedia Business Is Soaring

Delphi Automotive Systems said it has received more than $2.5 billion in business orders from seven different customers around the world for its Communiport[R] brand Mobile MultiMedia (MMM) technologies. Delphi's Communiport products will provide a number of navigation, mobile computing, communications, entertainment and information functions for personal and commercial drivers. "The extraordinary growth of Mobile MultiMedia has exceeded expectations," said Dave Wohleen, president of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.

"The interest in these technologies by vehicle producers has been very strong. These manufacturers are acutely aware of how these features and functions differentiate their vehicles from other cars and trucks. And even more important, they understand the evolving demographic transformation of lifestyles that is creating consumers who not only desire these options in their vehicles, they expect them."

The market for advanced mobile communications applications is projected to capture an increasing share of the $32 billion automotive electronics market, Wohleen said. Specifically, the compound annual growth rate for the MMM market over the next five years is expected to be 25 to 30 percent.

Market Demand For Mobile Multimedia - Road congestion is one issue contributing to the need for Mobile MultiMedia, according to Dr. Robert W. Schumacher, director of Mobile MultiMedia at Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.

A recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute showed the average person spends the equivalency of at least one work week a year in traffic jams.

"The average American racks up 14,000 miles per year behind the wheel and in some areas the study showed drivers spending as much as 82 hours a year in congested traffic," he said.

"The Delphi Communiport line of communications products gives drivers a host of alternatives as to how they want to use that time most effectively. In addition, Communiport can actually help reduce the time spent in traffic by helping the driver navigate routes that have the least congestion."

Using the new technology, vehicle occupants can hear and receive business correspondence or a variety of other specialized information and entertainment that cater to individual interest.

Under the Communiport brand name, Delphi's Mobile Multimedia applications use an array of technologies that integrate cellular phone, audio, Internet, navigation, audio/video, personal computers and displays.

Delphi uses these technologies to design and build console head units, telematics (technologies using combinations of GPS, microprocessors and cell phones) and rear entertainment systems products to vehicle makers' specifications.

"Delphi's Communiport Mobile MultiMedia System connects the vehicle with the world around it," Wohleen said.

"With a long history of integrating systems into vehicles, Delphi is the company that connects technology with the vehicle. And our extensive experience in vehicle integration allows us to integrate these systems ergonomically into vehicles by using convenient and effective interfaces such as simple console and steering wheel controls, large bright displays, voice recognition and speech synthesis,"

Delphi has approximately 201,000 employees and operates 168 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 38 joint ventures, 51 customer centers and sales offices and 27 technical centers in 37 countries.

Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo.

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