Volvo Penta and Garmin forge alliance for joint development

by Mats Edenborg, AB Volvo Penta on 20 Feb 2011 AB Volvo Penta and Garmin Ltd have entered into a joint development and marketing strategic alliance to provide instrumentation, navigation and communication equipment for marine use.

As a result of this strategic alliance, Volvo Penta and Garmin will jointly develop marine instrumentation, navigation, and communication equipment, which will be marketed in a complete customer offer for fully integrated drive systems and instruments.

This strategic alliance will make Volvo Penta the world-leading 'One-Stop Shop' in the marine industry for engines, drivelines and system solutions for instruments and navigation, thereby creating important advantages for boat builders, dealers and end users.

'The Volvo Penta and Garmin strategic alliance will provide our mutual customers access to state-of-the-art communication technology and a complete programme of multifunctional instruments which will significantly strengthen our world-leading position when it comes to complete, integrated drive systems for boats,' says Göran Gummeson, President of Volvo Penta.

'Garmin is honored to work with Volvo Penta,' said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s President and COO. 'This alliance allows Volvo Penta and Garmin to seamlessly combine the strengths of both companies to offer market-leading integrated system solutions that are of the best design and highest quality.'

As electronic systems continue to gain ground in the marine sector, the propulsion system in boats is being increasingly integrated in the driver's environment. Volvo Penta is linking engines and transmissions with instruments, controls and accessories in the electronic platform known as EVC, Electronic Vessel Control.

Using this electronic platform, Volvo Penta has been able to deliver products including the joystick and the Dynamic Positioning System, making boating easier and more convenient for the end user.

Together with Garmin's innovative instrumentation, communication, and navigation solutions, Volvo Penta will now be able to create an even better driver's environment, with a strong focus on comfort and user friendliness.

'Driving a boat should be easy. It should be enough simply to press the start button to power the entire system - in much the same way as a passenger car. The better we are at offering technology that simplifies boating, the greater our potential to attract new customer groups,' adds Göran Gummeson.

Volvo Penta's and Garmin's joint products will be introduced successively, starting in 2012.

For further information please contact Mats Edenborg, AB Volvo Penta,
Phone: +46 705 663510 or E-mail: mats.edenborg@volvo.com