SUBARU OF AMERICA MARKS AUDIOVOX OE SALES’ THIRD OE AWARD FOR 2007
Troy MI and Hauppauge NY – As their OE award record continues to accumulate, the Audiovox OE team has added their third for 2007 with two new programs from Subaru of America. The programs focus on consumer comfort, convenience, and safety. These awards cover Remote Start for the 2008 Tribeca, Impreza, Legacy, and Outback & 2009 Forester, and the second for a Reverse Assist System on the 2008 Tribeca. The Remote Start option provides the consumer comfort and the convenience by cooling or the vehicle’s interior on a hot summer day or cold winter morning. The Reverse Assist System provides the driver audible collision warnings, protecting against property and potential personal injury while backing up the vehicle.
“These programs,” says Mike Schroeder, VP, Audiovox OEM, “have unique differences from our past OE awards that are extremely noteworthy, in that Subaru of America has altered its vehicle production architecture to seamlessly accommodate the integration of the Remote Start and Reverse Assist Systems.” Subaru has conveniently accommodated the Audiovox-supplied systems with electrical `connector drops’ for Remote Start, and altered the rear bumper infrastructure to support the Reverse Assist Sensors. These types of vehicle accommodations allow for seamless factory-type qualitative integration, which facilitates increased penetration and sales rates. Dealers can order this option with the vehicle as port/production fit or as a dealer- installed option.
The Remote Start Option has a range of up to 800 feet and is activated by one of two single-button mini key fobs. “Offering separate key fobs with extended range”, notes Schroeder, “makes it easy for the consumer to use the Remote Start functionality separate from the factory keyless entry transmitter.” Activating remote start requires a `double-button’ press to prevent accidental starting when the transmitter is in the user’s pocket or purse. Additionally, the system will flash the parking lights and `chirp’ the car horn confirming remote start activation. Both features are examples of integrated safety and convenience.
“While consumers will appreciate the comfort and convenience of remote start, the dealer and port installation personnel will welcome the 100% plug-in feature of integrating this option. Eliminating the traditional aftermarket integration of cutting wires means dealers can dramatically reduce costs and efficiently increase their number of installations,” says Schroeder. The Remote Start System is designed to run for 15 minutes before automatically shutting down and will heat or cool the vehicle’s interior according to the vehicles pre-set temperature controls.
The new Subaru Tribeca Reverse Assist System is the first time an OE has altered the rear bumper infrastructure to support this type of port or dealer option. The system, which consists of four low-profile ultrasonic sensors, is designed to alert the driver with a series of audible “beeps” if the vehicle senses an obstacle from 6 feet while backing up. The intensity of the audible beep alert increases as the vehicle nears the object, ultimately becoming a steady tone as impact to the object become imminent.
Audiovox has been an advocate of vehicle-related child safety problems (back-overs and power window strangulations) for many years. The company has been supporting programs sponsored by KIDS AND CARS (ww.kidsandcars.org), legislations that address these problems, and also markets a line of aftermarket anti-collision products designed to assist with rear collision incidents.
“The fact that Subaru of America has decided to incorporated this feature into their Tribeca models and have chosen our system, speaks volumes about the quality and performance of this product; it could be a major contribution to help avoid injury to a family member, pet or even your vehicle.” said Schroeder.
About Audiovox
Audiovox (Nasdaq:VOXX) is a recognized leader in the marketing of automotive entertainment, vehicle security and remote start systems, consumer electronics products and accessories. The company is number one in mobile video and places in the top ten of almost every category that it sells. Among the lines marketed by Audiovox are its mobile electronics products including mobile video systems, auto sound systems including satellite radio, vehicle security and remote start systems; consumer electronics products such as portable DVD players, Portable GPS, flat-panel TV’s, extended range two-way radios, multi media products like digital picture frames and home and portable stereos as well as consumer accessories such as indoor/outdoor antennas, connectivity products, headphones, speakers, wireless solutions, remote controls, power & surge protectors and media cleaning & storage devices. The company markets its products through an extensive distribution network that includes power retailers, 12-volt specialists, mass merchandisers and an OE sales group. The company markets products under the Audiovox, Jensen, Acoustic Research, Advent, Code Alarm, Terk, and Prestige brands, as well as the recently-acquired rights from Thomson’s America’s consumer electronics accessory business to the RCA brand for Consumer Electronics accessories. The acquisition also includes the Recoton, Spikemaster, Ambico and Discwasher brands for use on any products and the Jensen, Advent, Acoustic Research and Road Gear brands for accessory products. Audiovox already owns Jensen, Advent, Acoustic Research and Road Gear brands for electronics products as part of prior acquisitions. For additional information, visit our web site at www.audiovox.com.