Navigon withdraws from GPS business in North America

Man, talk about coming straight out of left field. After blowing it out at CeBIT just two months ago, Navigon has just announced its intentions to pull out of the navigation business here in North America. According to CEO Egon Minar: "Due to the difficult economic environment and the aggressive pricing we have decided to withdraw from the PND business in North America for the time being. We are however not closing down our Chicago office which will continue to serve our automotive and mobile phone businesses in North America." He did assert that the company would "continue to fulfill all obligations to its existing PND customers in terms of map updates, etc.," but nothing else on the subject was said. So long, Navigon -- we'll miss your "uber-premium" wares.

[Via SlashGear]

[Chris Are @ May 4th 2009 11:48AM]

Navi-GONE! :-)

Seriously though, I've never even heard of this company.

[FyreFlareon @ May 4th 2009 11:54AM]

You've clearly not been looking too hard at GPS' if you've never heard of Navigon. It's a shame, too. Navigon's were pretty nice, and I preferred a lot of their models over their competition. Recession victim #83945734, unfortunately.

[Duke @ May 4th 2009 1:29PM]

WOW! I just bought one of their GPS units on Friday. I feel like a sucker now. :(

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 4th 2009 5:20PM]

Haha..
Sad to see it go though. Imo Navigons were some of the best GPSs. They were cheap and high-quality. In fact they're better than Garmins and TomToms. It just happens that their name sounds like any other noname GPS brand so consumers like you aren't aware of it. The biggest draw I think was the free lifetime traffic updates. And ironically it probably contributed to their fail. I thought it was a bad business model from the beginning, but after managing to stay in business for a whole year, I took it that they figured it out and bought one. Now I hope that the traffic updates will stick.

[Chris Are @ May 4th 2009 5:24PM]

@Andrew

Actually "consumers like (me)" wouldn't have cared about this regardless of the name because cell phone version of Google maps is far more useful- for us, anyway. :-)

[retsel @ May 4th 2009 11:52AM]

i saw friend with one... played with it a bit... they have cool devices that might deserve a higher price than some of the Garmins but they just cant match the market momentum of the nuvi...

And garmin keeps dropping their prices...

[Rob @ May 4th 2009 12:41PM]

Yeah, Garmin has been pretty aggressive with their pricing. My nuvi was $699 last year, and you can get it now for under $300 at Costco. Retail stores locally mainly stock and push nuvis these days too, which must be hurting the competition.

[Mystic @ May 4th 2009 11:52AM]

GOOD! Because their devices sucked!

[JS @ May 4th 2009 12:19PM]

I didn't own any of their devices, but wasn't their "Reality View" good?

[Kevin @ May 4th 2009 11:56AM]

Great, figures that they leave the market about 2 weeks after I buy my first unit. Good thing I didn't pay extra for map updates, who knows how long they'll truly honor their obligations.

[Jeff @ May 4th 2009 12:00PM]

Damn.....Does this mean the 7200t with free traffic updates will be on sale? I almost bought one last week.

[Wesley @ May 4th 2009 12:04PM]

I got the Navigon 5100 MAX, very good, much better than Tomtom and Garmin. I live in Europe, so no probs for me.

[RUS @ May 4th 2009 12:06PM]

I always thought the interface looked unpolished and cheap.

[Jeremy Riga @ May 4th 2009 12:08PM]

Their interfaces and software was much nicer than the other... I'm sorry to see them go.

[David @ May 4th 2009 12:17PM]

Just bought the 7200T last week. Should be delivered later this week. Now I am wondering if I should return it.

[Duke @ May 4th 2009 1:30PM]

That's what I'm thinking too.

[Ron @ May 4th 2009 12:35PM]

Navi-gone

Innovative hardware, Shitty software.

They should have never used the Windows CE core. I had one for a week and the unit would crash very often.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 4th 2009 7:13PM]

Way to steal the pun.

[mugupo @ May 4th 2009 12:35PM]

I wonder if they lifetime traffic will still honor?

[gpsguru @ May 4th 2009 12:41PM]

What does it take to survive in the PND market? From a marketing perspective, it seems like Navigon was making all the right moves. They found a niche (low priced free traffic) and had a good UI to go along with it. The units got mostly good reviews, and they had placement in major retailers. Did they spend too much on development? Advertising? Is there NO place for a non-Garmin/TomTom model? What do you think?

[Rick @ May 4th 2009 2:09PM]

Navigone was killed in the Garmin vs. TomTom crossfire. The price war was pushed by TomTom but Garmin is about to knock them out as well. TomTom has been swimming in debt ever since Garmin bid up the price of the map maker Tele Atlas merger. Now TomTom is struggling to make debt payments and has little left for R&D.

TomTom is next to fall as Garmin runs away with the hot new products and TomTom offers yesterdays tech.

[TIMMAH! @ May 4th 2009 3:45PM]

"What does it take to survive in the PND market? From a marketing perspective, it seems like Navigon was making all the right moves. They found a niche (low priced free traffic) and had a good UI to go along with it. The units got mostly good reviews, and they had placement in major retailers. Did they spend too much on development? Advertising? Is there NO place for a non-Garmin/TomTom model? What do you think?"

I think the whole PND market has a limited lifetime itself. Okay, so it costs what $50 to manufacture a basic GPS now. It's just a matter of time before the car manufacturer decide to include it as a standard feature in their cars. Remember when the car radio and AC were high priced options?

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 4th 2009 7:18PM]

10 years later.. Gas prices skyrocket, everyone decides to walk, PNDs are back with a bang!

[Harley3k @ May 4th 2009 1:05PM]

Dang, I literally just ordered the 7200T from amazon last night.
I added it to my wish list last year when it was $399ish, and just got it for $199.

[superflush @ May 4th 2009 1:04PM]

Aw man this is really disappointing. There were a few of us recommending Navigon devices in the recent ask engadget - http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/ask-engadget-best-4-3-inch-gps-unit/ .
I still would like to stay with Navigon. I guess buying them online through Europe would be the way to go.

[weaver21756 @ May 4th 2009 1:20PM]

yes please

[Duke @ May 4th 2009 1:53PM]

What sense does your post make?

[bacardilimon214 @ May 4th 2009 1:29PM]

Purchased NAVIGON 2100 max 2 weeks ago and love it. transitions and GUI are smooth and i love the lane assist feature as well as traffic updates. its quite clear when driving for me even in sunlight just wished its mounting bracket was designed better for easier use. Can complain. Love it!

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 4th 2009 7:23PM]

I agree. I've tried Garmins and TomToms but settled on Navigon. My unit did come with free lifetime traffic updates but I rarely need it. Anyway it was cheaper than the big names even with the free traffic.

[Bryan @ May 4th 2009 1:56PM]

Gah! I also just ordered a 7200t on Friday, and I purchased my GF a 2100t about a month ago. Im still excited to get it though.... Id love to see some cheap 8200's in a month or so :)

[Marino @ May 4th 2009 2:21PM]

This was the only GPS device that had lifetime traffic conditions built in at no extra cost. Sad.

[terryandbella @ May 4th 2009 2:43PM]

But many of the new Garmin's (being released in late may) have lifetime traffic included, a much better software interface, and are priced less. They don't have 3d-panorama view like the 8200-t BUT at least the company wont be leaving any time soon.

[bryan @ May 4th 2009 2:41PM]

Hmmm, so, how long will those "free traffic reports for life" last now? Also, good luch getting North American map updates. No incentive to do it now (kind of like Axion)...

[[e-mail] @ May 4th 2009 2:50PM]

What about the lifetime supply of traffic alerts?? Will they honor those for life to USA residents? It's the ONLY reason I bought it in the first place...

[Duke @ May 4th 2009 3:15PM]

I emailed them about that and have yet to get a response.

[Andy Engelkemier @ May 4th 2009 3:09PM]

This is definitely a shame. I bought one for my girlfriend because I wanted to get the best unit I could for my budget for her. The interface Did suck....until I hooked it up to the computer and updated it (which was automatic when I ran their software pretty much), then it was better than my TomTom. I was jealous.
And it looked much prettier, both the unit, and the interface.

I think they just spent too much money on nice things so they didn't make enough profit. For instance, they shipped a really nice clamp style suction cup. The TomTom? just a crappy push on, pull off suction cup. That falls off all the time. You have to pay like 25 dollars for the nicer version. Something tells me a couple things like that with each unit ends up being a couple dollars per box. 2 million units times a couple dollars? ouch.

I work at a large company and people freak out in joy when you figure out how to save 30 cents for every 1000.00 unit sold. But that's because we sell a few million a year, so you actually saved a bunch of money really. Recession = really crappy products everywhere for most companies. I just hope the company I work for keeps their eye on the ball and doesn't swing too low.

[Jerry Salem @ May 4th 2009 3:58PM]

I got a great deal on what I now know to be a closeout of Navigons just last week from Amazon.
FWIW, I think they are pretty good. To bad they didn't make it.

Jerry

[Carolina @ May 4th 2009 4:03PM]

Awww, I love the lifetime traffic. So who's lifetime then? Mine or the company's?
than the very funny pronunciations by Helga (Route 3g = Route 3 gram) I found the product
to be very useful and well worth the price ($99 after $200 rebate)

[Moe Green @ May 4th 2009 5:11PM]

DIdn't they have some kickass products that they released in China or Vietnam that were "promised" to hit the US and never did? Wasn't it the Navigon 9090?

[buffdaddy @ May 4th 2009 7:29PM]

I think Navigon had a solid business model as far as price and features but they are just not as user friendly as Garmin or Magellan. I briefly owned a 7200T and took it back after 2 days because the screen was hard to read and finding a POI was more difficult that it should be.

[The_WB @ May 5th 2009 7:06AM]

Garmin ate their lunch. The aggressive pricing of both Garmin and Tom Tom pushed them over the edge. I wish them well in the balance of the world, but they cut themselves out of a HUGE market!

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[Jim @ Jun 30th 2009 2:51PM]

I own a 7100. It is far superior to anything the Garmin, Magellan or TomTom has on the market. Very sad to see them go. Glad that the map updates I have purchased (3 years worth of multiple updates per year) will continue. Their problem was ZERO advertising. I found out about Navigon through a friend at work who bought one (2100) two Black Friday's ago. I have never seen a television or print ad for Navigon products. They should have invested a couple dollars in advertising then they would probably still be here.

I am actually considering upgrading to a 7200T!

[Matthew @ Jul 18th 2009 10:22PM]

Man...I missed seeing this 2.5 months ago! I bought the 8100T last December from Dell. The Panorama View3D, Lane Assistant Pro and Reality View Pro features are impressive, as well as the unique mount, which had the power cable from your lighter socket go to the mount itself. The GPS unit just snaps on the mount, which automatically connects the power and traffic antenna. SO easy to take on and off...NO cable to mess with!

But, my mount has a faulty pin...I have tried to get a response from Navigon here...no wonder! I hope I can get it replaced without going to Europe! The mount is the same as the European 8110T. It shows up at around 1:30 into the movie on this page: http://www.navigon.com/site/uk/en/products/car_navigation/navigon8110