Pioneer sees rise in sales of in-car products
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PIONEER ELECTRONICS (Thailand) has high hopes that digital terrestrial TV will help boost sales of its in-car entertainment products by at least 10 per cent this year.
With strong confidence in the development of both broadcasting systems and mobile Internet, the country’s leader in the after-market car electronics has decided to launch its flagship multimedia receiver with a built-in digital TV tuner, the AVH-X8750BT.
Managing director Hideaki Ishii said yesterday that the new-generation multimedia receiver would provide expanded smartphone connectivity and enhanced audio and visual (A/V) capabilities via a touch screen.
This model features AppRadio Mode and AppRadioLive, which allow users to tune into international radio stations via a connected smartphone.
The receiver will be available at 200 installers nationwide for Bt22,000.
Besides co-marketing with local installers, the company is planning to join Advanced Info Service to reach its mobile-phone users.
Social media also provide a key channel to reach potential customers. The digital TV tuner can entertain drivers TV programmes while stuck in traffic jams.
“By the end of this year, terrestrial-based digital TV will cover at least 80 per cent of the country, particularly in Bangkok and big cities. It is the right time for us to introduce this flagship multimedia receiver to the Thai market,” Ishii said.
In fact, there are 10 multimedia receivers equipped with digital TV tuners in the market. Eight are for standard-definition broadcasts while two including the latest one are for high-definition.
Pioneer believes there is huge potential because car sales are on the rise. In Bangkok, for instance, there are more than 14 million cars on the road.
In its first year, the flagship model is expected to account for 10 per cent of Pioneer’s car A/V business.
About 70 per cent of total sales will be from car A/V equipment and the rest from single DVD players and car components.
Pioneer is the market leader in the car A/V industry with half of total units. Annual unit sales are around 300,000.
The car A/V industry anticipates sales revving up by at least 10 per cent a year, Ishii said.
