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HARMAN Celebrates Advanced Audio and Infotainment Launches at Geneva Motor Show


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STAMFORD, CT--March 2, 2011: HARMAN, the global premium audio and infotainment group , said today that it has drawn tremendous interest from its automotive partners and end customers during the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, which runs through March 13 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Company is teaming with numerous global automakers to launch a series of cutting-edge innovations in branded audio, infotainment, and energy-saving technologies.

“The efforts of our company's scientists are evident in virtually every aisle of this year's Geneva Motor Show”

"The Geneva Motor Show ranks among the world's top venues for introducing the latest in automotive innovations, and HARMAN is proud to be among this year's most prominent participants," said Dinesh C. Paliwal, the Company's Chairman, President and CEO. "I have had the privilege to meet with top executives from many of our global automotive customers, and they are universally delighted to share the stage with our cutting-edge technologies."

HARMAN and Ferrari kicked off the show by unveiling the Company's revolutionary QuantumLogic surround sound technology in the new 2012 Ferrari FF, a four-seat vehicle billed as the automaker's most powerful and versatile car yet. Complementing its 200-plus mile-per-hour top speed, the FF is equipped with JBL Professional branded audio, to which the QuantumLogic technology will bring significant extra power. HARMAN's QuantumLogic technology transforms any stereo or multi-channel audio source into an astounding 7.1 channel surround sound experience, even unlocking the true fidelity of today's popular compressed music files.

Activities at the Geneva Motor Show continued as HARMAN and Mercedes-Benz introduced an innovative docking navigation solution for the automaker's SLK and next-generation C-Class vehicles. The new Becker® MAP PILOT solution from HARMAN blends the versatility of portable navigation systems with the convenience and easy access of in-dash infotainment. The removable navigation unit, tethered in the glove box, integrates seamlessly with the vehicle's large-format graphic display, on-board audio speakers, and steering wheel mounted controls. The pioneering system will be available in additional Mercedes-Benz models in the future.

HARMAN is also partnering with the leading Swiss developer Rinspeed to introduce the world's first social network vehicle, the Rinspeed Bamboo electric concept car. Using HARMAN's next-generation, scalable infotainment platform as the core, a number of networking and connectivity options have been integrated into the system to bring the youthful and social concept vehicle to life. The infotainment head unit includes the full functionality of HARMAN's Aha Radio technology, which translates text-based digital content to voice and plays it back within the car, making driving safer and more comfortable. Energy-saving HARMAN GreenEdge technology reduces system power consumption by more than 60 percent, while the Company's HALOSonic Electronic Sound Synthesis technology generates conventional engine sounds to alert pedestrians and nearby drivers as the electric car approaches.

"The efforts of our company's scientists are evident in virtually every aisle of this year's Geneva Motor Show," continued Paliwal. "We are grateful to these talented people and to our many global automotive partners for the contributions which enable HARMAN to inform and entertain some 20 million drivers on the road today - and many more to come."

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,800 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.5 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.