Garmin® Next-Generation Infotainment System Turns Car Dashboard Into Digital Cockpit

Garmin^®Next-Generation Infotainment System Turns Car Dashboard Into Digital Cockpit

OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Garmin^® International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NAS: GRMN) , the global leader in satellite navigation, today unveiled their K2 platform, the company's next-generation automotive infotainment solution, at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Inspired by Garmin's avionics and marine technology, K2 turns the car dashboard into a digital cockpit that provides drivers a safe and intuitive way to stay connected and access all the functions they need while on the road. The system intelligently combines digital displays, voice control, infrared buttons and smartphone integration to provide drivers access to everything from navigation to vehicle diagnostics, office features, communications, music and radio to real-time information from the Web.

"Our K2 infotainment platform provides drivers an elegant glass cockpit that functions as their digital hub. It allows them to control driving-related functions as well as aspects of their digital life in an intuitive and seamless way that minimizes driver distraction," said Matt Munn, Garmin managing director automotive OEM. "Garmin's experience in user interface design and hardware integration was paramount when developing K2. We already provide fully-integrated digital cockpits for aviation and marine OEMs, so providing a similar level of safety and integration for cars is a logical next step for us."

The innovative K2 platform has been designed and developed by Garmin's automotive OEM group and is a fully customizable and scalable solution to meet the diverse needs of any car manufacturer. Garmin will offer individual in-vehicle demonstrations to selected industry members and the press in a private meeting room at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Key features of Garmin's K2 infotainment platform include:

Glass Cockpit with Advanced Voice Control

Garmin K2 features a 10-inch glove-friendly multi-touch screen at the center of the dash and a digital and reconfigurable 12- inch instrument panel behind the steering wheel. In addition to the standard gauges, the instrument panel provides the driver notifications and snapshots of information, such as navigation, communications, audio and vehicle information. This allows drivers to access crucial information at a glance while keeping their eyes on the road. If the driver sees an incoming text message or email, for example, he can ask the system to read the message and respond via voice. Garmin's advanced voice controls allow the user to interact with K2 using natural and conversational language to get weather or traffic information, check their calendar or search for addresses or points of interest. Crucial functions can also be accessed using configurable infrared buttons that automatically detect an approaching hand.

The multi-touch infotainment screen at the center of the dash only shows driver-relevant information, such as navigation, music and weather, while driving to reduce distractions, but it presents a more comprehensive overview when standing still, including a messaging center and calendar. Garmin also has plans for safety sensors that could allow the front seat passenger to access a more comprehensive feature set on the center screen, such as social media and Web functionalities, while ensuring that the driver is prevented from using potentially distracting functions.

The K2 Platform is powered by the Jacinto 5-Eco processor and the OMAP 5™ platform from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), which sports a dual-core ARM® Cortex™-A15 foundation and multiple accelerators for high-performance, multimedia-rich infotainment features. Among other benefits, this setup is capable of driving multiple screens with high-resolution 3D graphics, which allows car manufactures to integrate infotainment options for backseat passengers. The K2 user interface is developed in HTML5, making it easy to customize for particular OEM brands.

3D Navigationand Location Services

The driving experience itself is defined by mobility, so navigation, maps and location services are at the center of Garmin's K2 infotainment platform. The system features onboard 3D navigation with city models that show realistic and beautifully rendered 3D representations of buildings for better orientation. The system is capable of integrating real-time information, such as fuel prices, parking, traffic, tracking, weather forecasts and images from traffic cameras. It warns users when they're running low on gas and automatically finds gas stations on the driver's route. Users can also create to do or reminder lists and the system can remind them at the right time based on location. For example, if the driver has a list of things to pick up at a home improvement store, it could remind him of that next time he is in the area. To even further take some of the cognitive load off the driver, Garmin is developing additional features that automatically draw conclusions from accessible information. Through the combination of calendar and navigation functions, for example, the system would know if the driver is running late due to traffic, so it could automatically ask if the driver wants to contact the parties of upcoming meetings and inform them about the delay.

Smartphone Integration and Web Portal

Garmin K2 integrates important smartphone functionalities through a bridge app that connects the smartphone to the dashboard system via Bluetooth® technology. Through this app, the system has access to the user's email, calendar, text messages and other features and can present this information on a customized interface and in a driver-friendly way. The bridge app can also be used to integrate any type of information or functionalities from third-party apps that the user already uses on his smartphone, such as radio, music or other content. Instead of simply mirroring smartphone apps onto the in-dash display, Garmin's system allows for the development of customized interfaces and integration into the system to provide a seamless and safe experience.

Garmin's K2 system can be fully customized using a Web portal. This provides users access to all the settings and functions of the system from their home computer. Users can, for example, decide what music or radio station to play at certain days and times, create to do lists or plan trips.

Garmin's automotive OEM group utilizes the company's long-standing experience in interface and hardware design from its automotive, avionics and marine segments to develop innovative in-car navigation, telematics and infotainment systems. Garmin already provides integrated cockpits to the aviation industry and is dedicated to bring a similar level of technology, integration, safety, reliability, and efficiency to the automotive market. Garmin's broad range of in-vehicle electronics for the automotive industry includes infotainment and telematics systems, navigation software, location-based services, and integrated portable navigation systems. Garmin has dedicated automotive OEM offices in the United States, Germany, China and Japan. The company has agreements with leading brands in the automotive sector such as BMW, Chrysler, Honda, Kenwood, Panasonic, Suzuki and Toyota, among others.

About Garmin International Inc.

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NAS: GRMN) , the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications - most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin's products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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Garmin International Inc.
Johan-Till Broer, 913/397-8200
media.relations@garmin.com

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