Visteon Corporation says it is supporting vehicle manufacturers and dealers by increasing production of radios with connectivity-related features as Brazilian consumers ask for more on-board entertainment systems.
During the five past years, Visteon has increased its production in Brazil of radios with connectivity-related features such as USB, bluetooth wireless technology, iPod devices and voice command by 30%.
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This year, connectivity-equipped radios will account for around 40% of Visteon’s radio production in Brazil. By 2015, Visteon expects that all radios it produces in Brazil will be equipped with technologies capable of keeping drivers connected.
“The trend toward more sophisticated radios is driven by an overall increase in Brazilians’ income, and by the emergence of consumers who desire more on-board technology, driven in part by the influx of imported vehicles that offer more content at competitive prices,” said Robert Visteon director of electronics in South America, Roberto Piccolo
Visteon began manufacturing radios equipped with bluetooth wireless technology in 2005. Today, they represent nearly half of the almost 500,000 radio sets that Visteon assembles each year at its plant in Manaus, Brazil. The radios are sold as original equipment and as accessories at dealerships in Brazil.
“We expect demand for connectivity to continue to rise,” Picchi said. “We’re prepared to meet the challenge by launching audio products that are easy and pleasing for drivers to interact with, thus mitigating driver distraction, while offering more ways to stay connected.”
