Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH has decided to discontinue all its activities in
the field of portable navigation devices, leaving its PND brand to Falk Navigation GmbH that is renamed to United Navigation GmbH.

The new company - effective since January 11, 2010 - will operate under the two brands: Becker and Falk. Falk is a subsidiary of well known German publisher MairDumont, which guide book brands include Marco Polo and Baedecker.

The collaboration between Becker and Falk started in 2003 when Becker’s fixed navigation devices were equipped with Falk’s Travel Guide Europe for the first time. Collaboration has been expanded ever since and now results in the amalgamation of the two brands into United Navigation. As a consequence, future Becker navigation systems will also take advantage of travel content from the MairDumont publishing houses.

The new shareholder structure is as follows: Dr. Frank Mair holds 80% of the shares, Elmar Peters - who has been a Managing Director of the company since October 2006 - holds 5 % and MairDumont, has strategic partner to United Navigation maintains 15% of the shares. The place of business of the new company is Ostfildern near Stuttgart.