NAVTEQ, a provider of automotive digital map data, reports that in the last year the total number of available vehicles with navigation systems grew significantly in North America, reaching 37 percent of vehicles sold in 2004. In 2004 navigation was introduced as a new option on 29 North American car models. The adoption rate is an important measure of market growth in the navigation industry. In calendar year 2002, navigation was offered as a feature on 18 percent of available vehicles in North America. The adoption rate climbed to 21 percent in 2003, and grew to 37 percent last year. In 1996, BMW and Acura were the first automotive brands to offer models with navigation systems in North America. Joining the 110 North American vehicle models already offering on board navigation, the 29 models that began offering navigation as a standard feature or option for the first time in 2004 included: BMW: 6-Series and X3; Cadillac STS; Chevrolet: Avalanche, Corvette, Tahoe, Suburban; Chrysler: Crossfire, Grand Caravan, PT Cruiser Cabrio, Jeep Liberty, Sebring, Sebring XJ, Sebring Sedan; Dodge: Magnum and Durango; Ford: Escape; Infiniti: QX56; Mazda: 3; Mercedes: SLK; Nissan: Altima and Titan; Pontiac: Grand Prix; Saab: 9-3 and 9-5; Toyota: Tundra and Sequoia; and Volvo: S40 and V50. As evidenced by the broad range of vehicles that added navigation in 2004, navigation is evolving from a feature once only available on luxury class vehicles to a feature now being offered across other light vehicle classes, most notably SUVs, mid-sized cars and light trucks.
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