HARMAN ranks as top Tier 1 supplier of auto navigation systems among the ten best factory installed systems

*HARMAN delivers proof of its global presence and excellence – HARMAN OEM systems achieve best ratings in the annual J.D. Power study of in-car navigation systems *

*Karlsbad, Germany* – In a recent J.D. Power and Associates study examining customers' usage and satisfaction with factory-installed auto navigation systems, HARMAN, the global leading supplier of premium audio and infotainment systems, achieves top ratings as the manufacturer of six out of ten of the highest-ranking OEM systems.

The Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study surveyed a list of criteria spanning Ease of Use; Routing; Navigation Display Screen; Speed of System; Voice Directions; and Voice Recognition. The study covered a total of 79 vehicle models from a range of manufacturers, 27 of them were fitted with HARMAN navigation systems – including Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Jeep, Dodge and Hyundai, which HARMAN collaborates closely with. Based on these close partnerships, HARMAN is able to supply these and other OEM customers with complete one-stop tailored solutions across all areas from research, development and design through to production and customer service.

According to the study's catalogue of technical and functional criteria, HARMAN OEM systems gained the highest total points in the ranking by automotive manufacturer; Porsche came top with the study's highest total score for a navigation system, and five further automobile brands equipped with HARMAN-designed and built systems followed in the top ten.

With respect to Routing, the HARMAN system installed in the Audi S4 Sedan received the highest number of points overall, followed by four further vehicle models fitted with HARMAN navigation out of the top 20. HARMAN systems also won respondents' favour in the Display category, where the Audi S4 Sedan system gained third place and three further HARMAN models ranked among the top ten best displays in the auto models surveyed. Three HARMAN systems were listed in the top 20 in the Speed of System category. The high-rankers in Voice Directions were also dominated by HARMAN, which scooped places including second, fourth and sixth, while Voice Recognition showed HARMAN in fourth place and a total of three systems in the top ten ranking for auto models.

Thus, the J.D. Power study once again shows that HARMAN is among the world's best suppliers of auto navigation systems, as a product and development partner of OEM navigation systems with the accolade of top customer satisfaction.

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 12,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.8 billion for the 12 months ended June 30, 2011. The company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE: HAR.