March 6, 2012 -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Volkswagen Group Launches New Versions of Its Best-Sellers VW Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia With Next-Generation Infotainment Solutions From HARMAN
GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR),
announced today that Volkswagen AG will launch the new models of its
best-sellers VW Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia with the next-generation
infotainment systems from HARMAN. Volume of the contract is estimated at
about 1.25 Billion US-Dollars. The new multimedia-driven system will
offer a sophisticated set of features including dynamic and real-time
Google Earth navigation, brilliant graphics on the basis of the
high-performance NVIDIA® Tegra 2 chipset, Internet access,
and wireless connectivity. An embedded flash memory will provide dynamic
navigation data which may be updated as required for current access to
routes and road information.
Based on the HARMAN infotainment platform, Volkswagen Group has
developed a modular infotainment platform (MIB) for next-generation
models of VW Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia. The modular infotainment
platform enables Volkswagen Group to easily upgrade the hardware and
software in order to synchronize the on board technology with latest
developments of the consumer electronics industry with its dramatically
shorter lifecycle and development cycles than the automotive industry.
Audi displays its current and future solutions for mobile IT
applications under the "Audi connect" banner. One highlight is the next
generation of the Audi A3 — the first model from the carmaker that uses
the modular infotainment platform from HARMAN. "Audi connect" describes
the fully networked mobility of Audi — that is, the networking of Audi
models with the Internet, with the infrastructure and with other
vehicles. The interfaces between the car and information technology
continue to gain importance here. Audi already offers its customers
integrated services that result from intelligently linking cloud and
backend solutions. The connection with the World Wide Web currently
operates via UMTS — in the future, Audi will rely on the fast LTE
standard.
"With this announcement, the Volkswagen Group demonstrates its close
ties with the IT and consumer electronics industries to provide its
customers with a unique mobile in-car experience", said Dinesh C.
Paliwal, HARMAN's Chairman, President and CEO. "In-car internet access
and improved connectivity are seen as key requirements for today's and
tomorrow's cars. Based on the HARMAN Infotainment platform, Volkswagen
Group will be able to offer its customers an always up-to-date mobile
and multimedia experience for the whole lifecycle of the models. The
modular hardware enables quick updates for higher performance too."
The new infotainment system will leverage HARMAN's deep expertise in
automotive infotainment applications including tuner technology, premium
audio solutions and cutting-edge networking. HARMAN will be the first
infotainment system supplier worldwide to integrate the new TI Jacinto 5
SOC (system-on-chip), offering MOST150 networking technology and an
FPGA-less design. The very highly integrated system provides a telephone
module, a complete set of tuner modules, a six-channel high performance
class-D amplifier, DVD-Drive, and a computing module built on the NVIDIA®
system-on-chip technology, all housed in a single 1-DIN unit.
About HARMAN
HARMAN (www.harman.com)
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 25 million automobiles on the
road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.
HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,000 people across the Americas,
Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve
months ending December 31, 2011. The Company's shares are traded on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
© 2012 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights
reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson are
trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered
in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG
Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries.
Academy Award is a registered trademark and service mark of the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. GRAMMY Award is a registered
trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. iPad,
iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and
other countries. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to
change without notice.

HARMAN International
Nicole Mehr, +49-7248-71-1272
Director
Corporate Affairs and Communications Europe
nicole.mehr@harman.com
or
Robert
Lardon, 203-328-3500
Vice President, Investor Relations
robert.lardon@harman.com
Source: HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated
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