GPS-maker Navigon pulls out of U.S.

Portable GPS navigation device maker Navigon has announced it is discontinuing sale of its units in the United States. The company says it will honor all warranties, and it continue to support owners who subscribe to its traffic services. Navigon will continue to market its devices in Europe. 

Speaking from U.S. headquarters in Chicago, a company spokesman cited increased competition from low-priced device manufacturers and falling prices as reasons for their decision. Relatively new to the U.S. market, Navigon had positioned itself as a maker of competitively priced mid- and high-end units, rather than inexpensive, no-frills devices. Navigon pioneered features like free traffic information, three-dimensional mapping (see 8100T) and reality view, which gives users a visual representation of road intersections and signage at major intersections. While not top-rated models in our Ratings, we had seen steady improvement in Navigon products. (Check our GPS Ratings and see the first looks on the Navigon 7200T and 5100.)

The spokesman indicated the company had not finalized its future plans and that no press release had been issued yet. But he indicated a downsized Navigon will maintain a presence in the U.S., and indicated the company sees an opportunity to partner with wireless device manufacturers and other potential providers for its services in the future. 

We are disappointed to see Navigon withdraw from the market. Their latest products offered solid choices to consumers, and the company’s innovations helped advanced the state of the art, challenging competitors to integrate upmarket features into affordable units.

—Jim Travers

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. If you're interested in going off the beaten path, See our handheld hiking GPS buying advice and Ratings. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

Comments

[Jay]

I am in the market for a Navigon. Now that they've announced pulling out of the US PND market, is it wise to buy one anymore? I am particularly referring to the "live traffic" updates and the map updates. They said that are still going to continue support, but I fear that since they aren't directly in the market that they won't be motivated to provide competitive services. Thoughts?

[Super Sports cars]

Yeah this is really cool stuff.Now a days the GPS-maker made easy for us to locate the position.

[Dan]

If you do a search through the GPS
discussion forums you will certainly
see positive comments about Navigon's
GPS units, particularly the 7200T which
came out last year.

However, you will also see NUMEROUS
negatives concerning a range of problems.
For those of us who purchased the 7200T,
these have included:

-- Frequent "fatal application errors"
which the company has at various times
attributed to low battery charge, but
which is more likely traceable directly
to their use of Windows CE.

-- Continuing difficulties, despite
some improvements over their previous
model, when switching directly from one
location in one state to another, including
freez ups requiring a restart.

-- Interminably long satellite acquisition --
in comparison for example to Tom Tom units
which power up and lock on almost immediately.

-- Terrible POI (Points of Interest)
selection

-- Customer service (not that this matters
anymore) that attempted to be helpful but in
the final analysis was nigh on useless.

Navigon, of course, refuses to entertain
requests from owners for refunds -- they
will send you as many replacement units
as you want (I'm on my third).

Buyers beware....even with price drops
sure to be seen at this point as sellers
such as J&R and others sell out their stock.

[kalmanizer]

I am VERY confused. Does this mean that the Navigon 7300t will NOT be coming out after all? I can't believe it!! I waited 6 months for that GPS System and now nothing. I'm sooo upset. :-(

[Jimmy]

I own a 7200t and its one of the best gps on the market. I am very disappointed that they pulled out of the us market. 7200t had the best graphics out of all the units tom tom garmin etc... and the fatal error is due to low battery. this unit works great. I hope they reconsider, they were just getting their name out there!

[oscalitoburito]

COME BACK NAVIGON!!!!

i just fell in love with your 7300t!
i'll buy it...come back friend.

[8100 owner]

I am confused... I recently purchased an 8100t and read about the new 7300t line coming out. Now their website is only promoting the iPhone software coming out.

So are they going to keep up with the freshmaps updates hopefully at least???

[Kevin]

I own a Navigon GPS and love it! The POI selection is limited (at least on my older unit) but other than that it is great. The "reality view" and street names notification made it my choice. Sorry to see you go...

[K M Stoddard]

Navi - GONE!! Good riddance!! The WORST support I have ever experienced. I spent three months trying to get the North American map loaded onto my Navigon 5 PNA. I purchased this unit from an AAFES, Power Zone in Kaiserslautern, DE. The German support group tried to get the problem resolved but soon gave up. Only after I contacted the CEO of Navigon did they seem to show renewed interest. They asked me to send them the unit and everything that came with it "and a brief description of the problem.", which they already knew from the three months of trouble shooting via e-mail. After a few days, I get an email message in Deutsch. I'm only a beginner in the language but I could make out the essence of the message: they were asking me questions I had already answered. About three weeks later the unit is returned to me and they haven't even opened up the box.

The US support team has been of no help, at all. I ask them questions and they answer with information that has nothing to do with the questions I have asked.

This is one company that needs to learn who pays their wages: the customer.

[tray]

Though they had vision..I am happy to seem them fail here. A product is only as good as it is supported. Which was utterly awful. When I finally did receive an EMAIL, lol.. it was the furthest from professional- it was like they had a 12 year old respond. Customer service should be the key to any succesful company