South Korea’s mid-tier company called Namsung received Apple’s ‘CarPlay’ certificationi for its automotive multimedia system for aftermarket. By receiving Apple’s certification that is difficult to get, it is expecting that it will be able to expand markets for its product and increase image of its brand. Namsung is planning to release its product in the U.S. market through Walmart sometime this month and go after the U.S. market.
Namsung (President Yoon Nam-cheol and Yoon Sung-ho) made an announcement on the 13th that its automotive multimedia system (model name: XDCP97BT) received Apple’s CarPlay certification.
CarPlay is an automotive OS (Operating System) that was developed by Apple and allows one to play music, receive and send calls, hear messages, and search maps by using Siri when it is linked to an iPhone. Apple only gives CarPlay certification to products that pass its strict standards and examinations.
Until now most of automotive manufacturers received CarPlay certification and it is rare that an aftermarket product receives CarPlay certification. This is the first time when a South Korean company, which sells its products with its own brand, received CarPlay certification.
Not only is Namsung’s product able to be linked to an iPhone but it also has an excellent audio performance. It is able to adjust tone according to one’s preference through an audio equalizer function and it can also provide desirable acoustic field effect through surround function. It also has a function that can monitor back of a car by being linked to a rear-view camera.
Namsung is planning to go after North American markets for automotive multimedia through its product. Because there are many iPhone users in North America and aftermarket is invigorated, there are high demands for products with CarPlay certification. Because most of current products with CarPlay certification are before market products that come with cars, Namsung’s aftermarket product is expected to create new demands.
While Namsung was working to receive CarPlay certification for its product, it was preparing to sell its product right away so that it would be able to sell its product as soon as it receives CarPlay certification. By doing so, it is planning to supply its product to North American markets starting from this month.
It also expanded its channels for distribution of its product by partnering up with North America’s biggest distributor called Walmart. It is now able to sell its multimedia product that received a CarPlay certification at every Walmart in North America.
Competitive price is also one of its strengths. Current automotive multimedia products that received CarPlay certification are expensive as they cost between $500 and $600. Although Namsung has not finalized the price of its product, it is planning to sell it at a significantly lower price than current products.
“We expect that there will be positive responses from markets towards our product as our product has both competitive price and excellent performance.” said President Yoon Sung-ho of Namsung. “We expect that both of our brand value and product image will increase from the fact that we received Apple’s certification, which is difficult to get.”
Staff Reporter Kwon, Keonho | wingh1@etnews.com