HARMAN and Bowers & Wilkins partnership yields impressive results: Maserati to feature new branded audio experience
Available exclusively from 2013
PARIS 27 September 2012 – The brand partnership of US premium audio technology designer HARMAN and British high-end audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins has now led to a major OEM deal: The iconic Italian sports car maker Maserati will be the first auto company to feature the high-performance in-car sound systems that are emerging from the alliance of the two partners. This new Bowers & Wilkins branded audio experience will be available in Maserati cars from 2013.
In 2008 HARMAN and Bowers & Wilkins agreed to unite their technical and commercial strengths – and over 100 years of combined expertise in the premium audio field – to design and develop new branded audio solutions for the automotive sector.
The Maserati partnership was announced at the Paris Motorshow by Bowers & Wilkins Executive VP Evert Huizing and HARMAN´s Sachin Lawande, Executive Vice President and Co-President, Lifestyle and Infotainment.
HARMAN, global representative of Bowers & Wilkins for applications of technologies to the automotive OEM sector, is confident of success. “We are delighted to be working with Bowers & Wilkins in bringing our audio technology to the legendary Maserati vehicles,” says Sachin Lawande, Executive Vice President and Co-President, Lifestyle and Infotainment. “HARMAN and Bowers & Wilkins share a proud heritage of traditional craftsmanship, engineering excellence, and continue to set benchmarks for performance and design in our industries. The new audio system will perfectly complement the luxury driving experience of a Maserati.”
Although no details about the forthcoming car audio system are yet available, Bowers & Wilkins Executive VP Evert Huizing says that there is plenty to get excited about. “I’m confident we’ve come up with something very special,” said Huizing. “By working closely with Maserati, HARMAN and Bowers & Wilkins engineers have designed a system perfectly adapted to the unique challenges of the car environment, and one which will deliver great sound and transform the driving experience.”
About HARMAN
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
© 2012 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. GRAMMY Award is a registered trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. iPad, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
About Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins is a high-end audio specialist and maker of some of the world’s most iconic hi fi systems. Its portfolio of products include the Zeppelin Air sound dock, P5 headphones and the flagship 800 Series hi fi speaker, used by recording studios such as Skywalker Sound in California and Abbey Road in London.
To find your nearest Bowers & Wilkins stockist visit www.bowers-wilkins.com
For additional information, contact:
Nicole Mehr, HARMAN Corporate Affairs & Communications Europe, Phone: +49 7248 71-1272, nicole.mehr@harman.com
Danny Haikin, Brand Director Bowers & Wilkins, Phone: +44 207 014 2630, dhaikin@bwgroup.com
Nick Bailey, Propel Technology, Bloxham Mill, Barford Road, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK, OX15 4FF. 44 (0)1295 724130 / 44 (0) 7813 956664
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