NSW: Satellite navigation on the up, says Toyota

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2001
NSW: Satellite navigation on the up, says Toyota

By Tim Dornin, National Motoring Correspondent

SYDNEY, Aug 14 AAP - It's like having the world's best navigator in the passenger seat
- someone who never takes a wrong turn, never gets angry and can instantly come up with
an alternative route.

It's satellite navigation and Toyota is about to introduce a new system to Australia
that will result in a big increase in the number of motorists using it over the next 12
months.

So far about 15,000 cars on Australian roads have screen-based navigation systems following
their introduction by a number of car producers since about 1995.

And like those earlier units, Toyota's will use the network of global positioning satellites
set up by the United States which now provide for an accuracy of plus or minus just 10
metres.

However, the Toyota system is the first to use DVD rather than conventional compact
disc technology and is also the first to introduce touch-screen controls.

DVD technology allows the one disc to store 172,000 kilometres of roads, covering all
Australia's capital cities as well as major regional areas.

It also provides for quicker response times, an important factor in making satellite
navigation more user friendly and safer.

Toyota senior executive vice president John Conomos said satellite navigation was clearly
a big step forward from a hard copy street directory.

But he said the challenge for developers was to balance the need to impart information
without the system becoming a distraction.

"There must be a point at which the driver could potentially become overloaded with
information," he said.

"It's for that reason Toyota elected to enter the satellite navigation market only
when it could guarantee fast delivery and easy communication."

Mr Conomos said Toyota expected to sell about 3,500 cars with satellite navigation
over the next 12 months with the system offered across the Lexus and in many Toyotas,
either as standard equipment or an optional extra.

The company is yet to announce pricing of the three levels on offer but car buyers
can expect to pay about $5,000.

Despite the added cost Mr Conomos said he could see a time in the not too distant future
when satellite navigation and other intelligent transport systems would be as commonplace
as a car radio.

"Like cellular phones, satellite navigation will initially be sought by early adopters,
but their enthusiastic response will drive a far larger market response," he said.

AAP tjd/sl/cjh

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