Garmin nuvi40LM & nuvi50LM sat-nav units launched

The Garmin nuvi40LM and nuvi50LM satellite navigation (sat-nav) units have the potential to revolutionise the Indian car accessory market due to their affordability and lifetime free map updates

Garmin India has launched two new affordable satellite navigation units, the nuvi40LM priced at Rs 8,450 and the nuvi50LM priced at Rs 9,990. Garmin is offering lifetime free map updates for the sat-nav units - that’s what LM stands for. There will be four updates spanning each quarter of the year to provide users with the most up-to-date maps. This results in huge savings for users as a single map update for MapmyIndia sat-nav units costs Rs 928.

“Garmin firmly believes that technology should not be restricted to the high and mighty. It has been noticed that masses travel a lot and need guidance to reach the destination. Even on vacation these are the people who love to travel on their own without any entourage following them. So, Garmin devices will fill in the gap making their vacations and moving around easier,” said Tony An, Garmin Asia Marketing Director.

The nuvi40LM has a 4.3-inch widescreen LCD display and packs in features like Junction view, Lane info, House search, Highway mode, text-to-speech feature and voice guidance in English and Hindi.

The Junction view feature allows you to see the exit you need to take at a junction ahead so that the driver knows the path before getting there which allows him plenty of time to prepare for taking an exit thereby avoiding sudden and dangerous last minute manoeuvres.

The Lane info feature guides you to the correct lane that the vehicle should be on at all times. This helps drivers be on the appropriate side of the road in unfamiliar areas and avoid making sudden manoeuvres.

The House search feature allows you to enter a house number across 16 cities, the sat-nav unit will then find the location for you. This feature is a boon in urban India as house numbers are distributed in an uneven fashion.

The voice that gives the driver audio instructions according to directions of the sat-nav can be programmed to speak in English or Hindi.

The text-to-speech feature speaks out names of streets that the vehicle is on to let the driver know where he/she is. An Indian accent has been programmed into the unit to make it easier for drivers to understand directions and locations.

The Garmin nuvi50LM packs in all the features available in the nuvi40 only with a bigger 5.0-inch screen.

Garmin’s foray into the affordable sat-nav market will make motoring safer and more convenient for a huge number of motorists in the country and we hope that sat-nav device use catches on quickly for safer motoring.

Garmin currently sells four satellite navigation units in India, the nuvi40LM, nuvi50LM, nuvi 2465LM and the 2565LM. Market feedback suggests that the most expensive Garmin sat-nav unit, the nuvi 2565LM is selling the most. Customers hook up the wireless rearview camera (an option in the nuvi 2565LM) as it is easy to install and a very convenient feature. The rearview camera is worth Rs. 7,500 in addition to the nuvi2565LM's sticker price of Rs. 18,990. Garmin is also offering a front mounted camera that can be mounted behind the front windshield (mostly behind the rearview mirror), the camera can be used to record anything from rashly driven vehicles in front to breathtaking scenery. The front mounted camera is worth Rs. 7,500.

The table below indicates Garmin India's sat-nav product range along with prices