ViaMichelin and Navigon Collaborate to Offer PNDs

With the primary objective to offer the French market with a line of Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs), the French company ViaMichelin has teamed up with the German company, Navigon and they have agreed to co-brand the product with both their names.

According to statement made available by Via Michelin CEO, Alain Cuq, where he said that the "agreement will provide economies of scale which are made necessary by heavy pressure on PND prices and by relying on Navigon for PNDs, and by developing more partnerships, ViaMichelin will bring its travel assistance services to more consumers every day, making use all types of digital technologies."

AS a subsidiary of tire-maker Michelin ViaMichelin specializes in maps and travelers' guides and it recently announced that it planned to exit its self-branded PND business. Navigon, long known for its OEM navigation software, just launched its own brand of PNDs last year.

Already, the two companies have concluded arrangement on how to market the product. The co-branded ViaMichelin-Navigon PND range will be launched in France by the second quarter of this year with the expectation of extending the offer to other countries later on.