Shopping for Car Electronics More Popular Online than at Car Stereo Shops

Knowledge is power, so we’re giving it to you straight.

A presentation at KnowledgeFest on Tuesday by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) revealed that 32 percent of consumers prefer to shop for in-vehicle technology online AND 32 percent prefer to shop at a car stereo specialist.

But the study was performed in March 2010, and CEA director of research Steve Koenig told showgoers that by now, those preferring to shop online has surpassed those choosing to shop at a car stereo specialist.

By Q4 this year, online sales will account for 13 percent of consumer electronics sales, up from 12 percent a year earlier.

You can see on the chart that most consumers (63%) prefer to shop at general electronics stores like Best Buy. Next in line are mass merchants like Walmart (42%), followed by the “Automotive Electronics Store,” (which is a car stereo shop, said CEA) and online ecommerce.

Another take away from CEA’s presentation is that consumers believe salesmen are MORE knowledgeable at general electronics stores like Best Buy than at specialty stores.

One of the key messages at KnowledgeFest held in Dallas this week was to beef up your Internet presence, and promote a message of why your store is better than other shopping venues.

Source: CEA

CEA Forecast on In-Car Internet Radio

In-Car Internet Radio will represent 10 percent of aftermarket deck sales (U.S. wholesale units) by 2013, up from 6 percent this year, said the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in a presentation at the KnowledgeFest car stereo show in Dallas this week.

Total aftermarket head unit revenues this year will grow by 2 percent (wholesale).

“I have a lot more faith that Internet Radio and its kin will do a lot more to lift this industry,” said CEA director of industry analysis Steve Koenig at a keynote address.

Internet radio-ready head units will climb from 410,000 units in 2011 to 749,000 wholesale in 2013.

Despite the growth of Internet Radio, the average price of head units (wholesale, we presume) will continue to fall, reaching $78 in 2012, down from $79 this year, and down from $95 in 2007.

Car amp wholesale revenues will grow to $155 million this year, up from $136 million last year. They will continue to climb next year to $170 million.

OE Integration revenues will grow this this year to $125.8 million and peak in 2013 at $131.1 million. By 2015, revenues will fall to $127.4 million, forecasts CEA.

In-dash navigation revenues will fall, even as unit sales increase. Revenues will hit $107.3 million in 2015 compared to $113.4 million this year.

Source: CEA

Audiovox Updates Toyota OE Replacement Deck

Audiovox upgraded its Advent factory replacement radio for the Toyota Camry to include Parrot Bluetooth and a rear view camera.

The new AV/navigation radio also provides a new user interface and an external mic for better audio volume when making calls.

The Camry OTOCAM2 radio is Audiovox’s 11th model in its OE line.

“This is the fourth Toyota radio upgrade we have introduced since last year and this system offers consumers some of the most sought after features available in the market today,” said Tom Malone, Audiovox Electronics president.

The Camry factory replacement radio has a 7-inch touch screen and can control an iPod or iPhone. It’s also XM-ready and has a USB input. Users also get call waiting, caller ID and push to talk as well as 11 points of interest for navigating and a 3-year warranty.

Source: Audiovox Electronics

MERA Offers Training from Marketing Guru

If you saw Jim Ackerman lead a seminar at KnowledgeFest, you know this father of 9 children has a lot to say about up-selling, getting the after-sale, competing with the guy down the street and finding time to market your business.

He’s a strong advocate of requiring your best salesman (most likely, you, the store owner) to write scripts on how to qualify and sell to the customers. Then the sales staff must memorize and use the scripts or face penalties.

If you missed him in Dallas this week, no worries, the Mobile Electronics Retailers Association (MERA) has hired Ackerman’s marketing firm, Ascend Marketing, to coach car audio retailers. MERA members will get a discount on the program, which Ascend guarantees will produce a 400 percent return on your investment, or you get a refund.

It’s a 4-6 month program that includes one-on-one coaching and group coaching via teleconferencing. More details on the program will be announced, said MERA.

Source: MERA

Scosche Intro’s Car Anti-Texting Device

Scosche previewed at KnowledgeFest an anti-texting dongle, which plugs into an OBD-II port to block your ability to text and email while driving.

Aimed at parents of teen drivers, the cellControl system also relies on an app for Android, BlackBerry and Nokia phones.  And an iPhone version under development.

A Bluetooth connection wirelessly links your phone and the dongle, but Scosche says the connection will not interfere with other Bluetooth functions on your phone.

If the car stops for 5 to 10 seconds, cellControl will re-allow email and texting.

Users can set the free app to block individual functions including sending or receiving text, email or phone calls. It can also selectively permit calls when the phone is used with a handsfree device.

The cellControl system will officially launch this fall at the SEMA show at $129. Service is free for the first year and then $49/year thereafter.

Source: CEoutlook

Alpine Raises Prices on Subwoofers

Alpine Electronics will raise prices on some subwoofers by up to 25 percent, effective October 1, as the cost of components increases, it said.

The price action follows increases earlier this year from JL Audio, Audiovox and others.

Alpine’s Mike Anderson said, “We’ve absorbed the price increase [on component parts], but the increases from our vendors got to the point where we couldn’t do it anymore. “

Alpine’s price rise is larger than some of the single digit  or low double digit actions  announced by other suppliers, however some suppliers have had more than one increase.

Even more vendors are expected to raise prices in the coming months.

Dual’s Ed Sachs, speaking from the floor at KnowledgeFest noted, “Everyone who makes speakers will have to raise the price. The price of component raw earth metals have increased by 5 to 30 percent. So it’s a matter of time for everyone.”

Some companies are expected to build that increase into their 2012 pricing on new products to be introduced in January at the Consumer Electronics Shows. But speakers often have long product cycles of two years or more, so some suppliers may not be able to wait for a product refresh.

Dual said it is “reviewing what to do and how to do it,” regarding pricing.

Memphis Car Audio’s John Linn, also said “If things continue the way they are, then there will be price increases at some point.”

Both Sony and Kenwood said they will not raise prices for the time being.

Sony’s Mike Kahn at KnowledgeFest admitted that the sheer size of the Sony Corporation allows it to absorb costs. “We internally discussed it but don’t think it’s the right thing—not for the next six months.” He admitted however, “It’s a tough business decision.”

Metals that have seen price increases include copper, zinc, aluminum and sliver as well as strontium. The latter is often found in speaker magnets.

Source: CEoutlook

New Firstech Remote Start Lines

Firstech, parent of the CompuStar brand, announced a new line of remote starters for the car electronics expeditor and new car dealer.

The FTX series will replace the current NewStart line. It is Firstech’s first series of remote starters designed from the ground up to suit the expeditor channel. It claims automotive grade quality and it  includes both universal models as well as car-specific units for Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia and Mercedes-Benz.

There are three transmitter models including a one-button, one-way model; a 4-button, one way model; and a 4-button, two-way LED version. The units ship without a brand name to accommodate the new car dealer, and they are available now.

Firstech also announced during KnowledgeFest that is putting new focus on CompuStar’s sister brand Arctic Start. While CompuStar has been the key brand for the company, Firstech is now expanding the Arctic Start line and will launch a marketing campaign for the brand this fall. There’s also a redesigned Arctic Start  web site at www.arcticstart.com.

Source: Firstech

Rockford Ships Prime Car Amps

Rockford Fosgate is shipping new Prime car audio amplifiers including four FRD models in full range and mono block Class D configurations.

The models are smaller and generate less heat than typical amps. Rockford claims they also offer technology atypical for the price such as on-board variable Punch EQ with optional wired level control and integrated top-mount controls.

Models range from 400 to 1,200 watts at 2 or 1 ohm stability.

An R400-4D, 400 watt, full range, 4-channel model carries a price of $289.99 It’s joined by an R600-4D similar model that delivers 600 watts at $399.99.

Two mono block amps are the R750 and R1200 at $349.99 and $449.99 respectively.

Source: Rockford Fosgate

Kenwood Appoints Meenan

Kenwood appointed Ed Meenan to the post of eastern regional sales manager. The 20-year industry veteran was recently at Eclipse where he launched that company’s expeditor sales program. He’s also held posts at Clifford, Code Alarm, and Boomerang Tracking.

Kenwood also announced that 190 retailers qualified for its annual incentive trip, whose destination this year is the Caribbean island of Jamaica October 8-16.

Source: Kenwood

TomTom to Ship First PND with Apps

Apps are a driving force behind our love affair with smartphones, so why not include them on a portable navigation device (PND)?

TomTom has done just that in its new GO LIVE 1535M, which it calls the first PND with built-in apps. At $249, the device is also the lowest priced connected-PND from TomTom, undercutting the previous leader—the GO LIVE 2535 ($349) by $100.

Twitter, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Google, and apps for fuel prices, safety cameras and weather are pre-installed on the PND which has built-in AT&T wireless service. You don’t get full Twitter, but the device will automatically tweet your estimated time of arrival if you choose, or notify friends that you’ve arrived at a restaurant.

Yelp gives you ratings and reviews of nearby restaurants and hotels and then lets you navigate to your destination with a single tap. TripAdvisor also shows  hotel and restaurant reviews and suggests things to do in a city, pointing out historic sites, museums, etc. Expedia provides hotel information in real time including room vacancies and accurate room prices. But it does not let you book a room directly from the PND.

The new “App PND” has a 5-inch screen and a slim line form with a built-in foldable mount. It includes HD Traffic, TomTom’s real time, crowd-source traffic service that claims more road coverage and more accurate reports than other services.

If 10 percent of drivers used HD Traffic, it would reduce overall traffic by 15 percent, says TomTom.

HD Traffic presents updates every 2 minutes and covers not only highways but side roads so it can better reroute around traffic without steering you into another jam on a back road. It covers 6 million miles of roads compared to TMC’s 500,000 miles, said TomTom.

The GO LIVE 1535 will be available in the fall.

Source: TomTom

In Car Experts Adds GuidePoint as Member

In addition to adding Boston Acoustics this week, In Car Experts (ICE) will add GuidePoint Systems as a vendor partner.

The ICE car stereo marketing/buying group said the partnership will help increase awareness and sell-through of GPS tracking.

“The vehicle GPS tracking category has been around for years, but has not gotten much traction outside of the fleet industry. This partnership aims to reverse this trend,” said an ICE statement.

ICE members will receive exclusive discounts on products from GuidePoint, which claims to be the industry leader in stolen vehicle recovery, driver safety, vehicle tracking and fleet management systems

“In the past this has been a tough category for retailers as very few manufacturers seem to focus on the needs of the specialist,” said Rob Elliott, ICE executive director. “Guidepoint has done a great job of tailoring a program for ICE members, and unlike most vendors in the 12-volt industry, Guidepoint actually markets its products in places which bring consumer awareness. A perfect example is the company’s sponsorship with Penske Racing.”

ICE is a near $300 million group with 150 retail members, which is adding  new retailer members at the rate of approximately 5 per month.

Source: In Car Experts

MTX Launches Its First Pro Line

MTX Audio is launching its first line of Pro car audio  speakers and introducing new shallow mount subwoofers here at KnowledgeFest.

New Pro models total six midbass and bullet tweeters under the RoadThunder Extreme (RTX) series. Pro style speakers tend to focus on midbass and have higher sensitivity than typical car audio speakers.

National sales manager Jamie Trentacoste said  the Pro line permits MTX to remain a one-stop-shop for all car speaker styles.   ”Having this product category helps our dealers provide the solutions that their customers need while at the same time helping them reach their volume and freight goals.”

The new Pro 8 ohm RoadThunder Extreme drivers ship in December and include the :

RTX658 6.5″ Midbass Driver 100W RMS
RTX88 8″ Midbass Driver 150W RMS
RTX108 10″ Midbass Driver 250W RMS
RTX128 12″ Midbass Driver 300W RMS
RTX2BT 2″ Bullet Tweeter 100W RMS
RTX4BT 4″ Bullet Tweeter 250W RMS

New shallow mount subwoofers fall under the Flat Piston (FPR) series sporting an updated design that handles more “air volume” and better manages heat.

The subwoofers have a patent pending design that mounts the spider directly to the front plate rather than the basket.  They support more excursion (to move more air). The new cone design also adds more surface diameter.

The shallow subs, designed for tight enclosures, come in 10 and 12-inch sizes at 300 and 400 watt RMS power, respectively. Both are available in single 2 and 4 ohm versions at $229.95 and $249.95. Shipping is planned for mid-September.

Also new is an RTL12K2D 12-inch loaded subwoofer enclosure at $329.95 minimum advertised price.

Source: MTX Audio

TM6 MOST Preamp from NAV-TV

NAV-TV  introduced at KnowledgeFest a new MOST preamp that let you add an aftermarket speaker and amplifier system to your factory car radio.

The unit plugs into the car’s digital electronics system for a clean signal and gives you 6 channel audio outputs, a 31-band octave equalizer and time alignment.

NAV-TV claims 4 years of engineering went into the TM6 preamp, which is a one-box solution, requiring no other OEM integration components for under $1,000. It will be available in limited quantities in October with a hard launch in time for the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

The TM6 will work initially with Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Range Rover vehicles with other MOST vehicles to follow.

Source: CEoutlook

CompuStar Seeking Rep Firms

CompuStar (Firstech) is seeking manufacturer’s rep firms in the Texas and Florida markets to represent brands including CompuStar, FTX, Arctic Start, Drone, Fortin and iDatalink.

Interested firms should stop by the CompuStar booth during KnowledgeFest in Dallas this week or email jkaminski@compustar.com.

Source: Firstech

ICE Releases Smartphone App

Swedesboro, NJ–. To celebrate its 5 year anniversary, In Car Experts, the largest car stereo buying group, has released its first smartphone app as a “thank you” to the industry.

The app is FREE to all 12 volt professionals and can be downloaded from Android Market or from the MAC web site. The app is geared towards installers and salespeople as both a handy install and sales tool.

The MAC app was released to ICE group members at the end of June and already has close to 500 users. Its initial industrywide launch is sponsored exclusively by AAMP of America. AAMP CEO, Ron Freeman states, “AAMP has great respect for the specialty retailer/installer and has been supporting them since the 80s. To further support them with today’s technologies is a no brainer.”

ICE executive director, Rob Elliott says, “We would like to thank the entire 12 volt industry for embracing ICE. It is our hope that the MAC app can make their days a little more productive and profitable.”

CompuStar Handsfree RFID Transmitter

CompuStar is launching October 1 a mini keyless entry transmitter that automatically unlocks your doors when it comes within three feet of your car.

Users place the small quarter-sized device on a key chain or in a pocket and it eliminates the need to press lock or unlock on a CompuStar remote starter or Drone Mobile (smartphone based) remote starter app.

The device is particularly useful to owners of Drone Mobile systems because it eliminates the need to reach into a pocket and pull out a phone, launch an app and wait a few seconds for the response.

The RFID, ultra slim transmitter has a minimum advertised price of $74.99.

Source: CEoutlook

Avidworx Intro’s Low Cost Displays

Avidworx is introducing its lowest cost retail car audio displays to date.

The company claims use of its displays can double a retailer’s sales and help convert up to 80 percent of floor traffic to a sale.

New displays debuting at the Knowledgefest trade show this week in Dallas come in 3-foot sections for technologies such as Bluetooth hands free calling or OE radio integration or multimedia. Each section starts at $999 or $27/month.

The Bluetooth display holds 3 to 9 units.

“If we only see the product, we have a 10 percent chance of closing the sale. If we see and hear it, we have a 40 percent chance. If we see, hear and touch it, we have an 80 percent chance of making the sale,” said Avidworx’ Marcel Jacques Newell adding, “Stores with glass showcases or who are stacking boxes on the floor are turning away 90 percent of their walk in traffic.”

Think your store is up to date? In his presentation at Knowledgefest, Newell will show pictures of pawn shops and pictures of  some 12 volt shops and claim they are indistinguishable. As car electronics attracts an older demographic and one that now includes women, stores must upscale their merchandising.

“The stores that are focusing on audio, deck & 2′s are probably not having a good time right now. Stores must stay on top of new technologies…There are over 25 different product categories in the 12V mobile market. The business is way more complicated than just audio, mobile video and remote start. With 25 different categories, if you are not showing, you are not selling it. “

Avidworx also provides a free online price tagging tool that gives a store the ability to create its own data base of products and then generate price tags. It also offers a service to help create a brand image for your store and support it with art and a consistent message.

“I am the dentist of our industry,” said Newell. “Everyone needs our help, they all hesitate to call, but when they do, they are happy that they did, and wish they had done it sooner.”

Source: CEoutlook

Mobileye Revamps Driver Safety for Aftermarket

Mobileye will introduce a lower priced, redesigned, consumer and installation friendly driver safety system in October. It will back it with a broad advertising campaign to drive consumers to retail stores, and it claims it will achieve the same success with driver safety at retailers that it’s enjoyed in the fleet and OEM markets.

The company has also embarked on a hiring spree, tapping Jack Travis, former VP sales at Harman International as its director of retail sales. Another prominent appointment of a CE veteran will be announced shortly, said Skip Kinford, Mobileye CEO.

“We put tremendous resources into the fleet category and now we’re giving that same level of commitment to the retail space, said Kinford.

He claims that any retailer who makes a commitment to the product will be able to replace lost revenue from declines in core car stereo products.

“We’re creating a vertical and a revenue opportunity for the retail industry. There’s been a lot of products: head units, speakers, gadgets, that people keep retooling and re-marketing, but we are creating a new revenue source,” said Kinford.

Unlike Mobileye’s early foray into the retail category with the C2-270 crash warning system, the new C2 series has a more modular design, and is easier to install. There will be a budget version that gives only audio warnings, which will be less costly than a step-up model with audio and visual alerts.

Average installation time for the new product is 1.5 hours.

Features include: collision warning, pedestrian and bicycle collision warning, and lane departure warning. You get a 2.7-second alert before a collision, allowing enough time to react and avoid a crash. The new C2 series also automatically adjusts your high beams as needed.

Mobileye will reveal pricing and retail support programs on Sunday, August 28, at its booth at KnowledgeFest, which runs through August 30 in Dallas.

Source: CEoutlook

Kenwood Presents Seminars on Smartphone Connectivity at KnowledgeFest

Dallas, TX – Kenwood USA Corporation will be offering training sessions on the challenges of smartphone connectivity and integration of these devices in the car at the 2011 MERA KnowledgeFest in Dallas.

It will cover numerous topics related to the quickly-changing in-car electronics landscape and will offer insight on the future of aftermarket and OEM systems and solutions.

Scott Caswell, senior manager of Kenwood’s training initiative said, “We intend to have candid discussions on the challenges created by the use of smartphones in the vehicle today, how to gauge the impact of connected technologies and what solutions can be offered now and in the future.

Kenwood will be holding two sessions, one on Sunday, August 28 at 5:00 PM and one on Monday, August 29 at 5:00 PM. Both days’ sessions will be held in the Grapevine 4 meeting room of the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Conference Center.

It will also host booth #817 on the show floor.

ICE Partners with Boston Acoustics

The In Car Experts (ICE) marketing/buying group announced that Boston Acoustics Mobile Audio has become a vendor partner.

Boston Acoustics will help fund ICE marketing tools for retailers and will offer special programs and co-op to ICE members. Also, ICE retailers will appear on Boston Mobile’s web site in a dealer locator.

ICE executive director, Rob Elliott said, “Many brands talk about their commitment to the independent, but Boston’s Authorized Dealer Portal and UAP [Unilateral Advertising Policy] are proving it. We have watched the unbelievable impact the UAP policy has had on Denon and Boston Home product and can’t wait to see the same impact on the car product.”
ICE associated director, Jason Denton says, “Boston Acoustics is one of the few 12 volt brands that is also seen on products OUTSIDE of our industry.”

ICE is a near $300 million group with 150 retail members, which is adding  new retailer members at the rate of approximately 5 per month.

Source: In Car Experts

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