Fusion navigation system receives high marks for speed of system, voice directions, ease of use

The Clarion-supplied, factory-installed Voice-Activated Navigation System, available in the Ford Fusion, ranks “Highest Satisfaction,” according to J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study. The Clarion navigation system in the Ford Flex ranks second, followed by the Ford Taurus and the Lincoln MKS.

Co-developed with Ford, the Clarion navigation systems are installed in twenty two 2010 model year vehicles. Clarion systems in selected Ford and Lincoln models earned six of the top 10 positions, receiving the highest marks from consumers for system appearance, navigation display screen, routing and speed of system.

The newly released study is based on responses from over 17,000 consumers who recently purchased or leased 2010 model year vehicles with factory-installed navigation systems.

“Providing advanced Infotainment and Navigation systems offering customers the most important real-time information requires an intense focus on the Human Machine Interface (HMI). It’s not just about offering the latest and greatest features and technologies. The features must be presented in a way that keeps a driver’s eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while benefiting from the additional value the features provide,” states Jim Buczkowski, director, Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering for Ford Motor Company.

“Clarion and Ford have some of the best engineers in the industry working on HMI and we are excited that the effort is paying off for our customers.”

This marks the seventh J.D. Power and Associates award Clarion has received in the past five years for either in-dash navigation or multimedia systems, and the third award for their factory- installed navigation systems. “Clarion is proud to be honored with this award for the second straight year,” says Tom Hayashi, President of Clarion Corporation of America. “We strive to capitalize on our strong customer relationships to deliver market-leading products like the Ford navigation system.”

The study results, shows a growing number of consumers are making navigation systems an integral part of their lives. Now in its 12th year, the study identifies seven factors that contribute to overall customer satisfaction. In order of importance they are; ease of use, system routing, navigation system display, system appearance, voice recognition, voice directions and speed of system. The study also measures quality by examining problems per 100 (PP100) navigation systems, in which a lower score reflects higher quality.

Ford’s Clarion-supplied Voice-Activated Navigation System was specifically designed with the customer in mind. Ford and Clarion worked cooperatively in order to determine what features consumers would find most beneficial in these navigation systems. Consumer feedback and results from industry studies such as J.D. Power and Associates will help both companies anticipate the future needs and continue to provide systems that make consumers lives more convenient with a rich and enjoyable in-vehicle experience.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

About Clarion

Clarion Corporation of America, headquartered in Cypress, California, is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Clarion Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, which has been a consolidated subsidiary of the Hitachi Group since 2007 and an international leader in car audio and electronics since 1940. The company is involved in the research, development, engineering, design, manufacturing, sales and marketing of mobile entertainment, navigation, communications, safety and security products for the automotive, marine, recreational vehicle, commercial fleet and heavy industry environments. Clarion has been the recipient of numerous awards for design innovation, support, manufacturing and product reliability from independent organizations and customers alike. The company has marketing and sales affiliates in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. Clarion is located on the web at www.clarion.com.