By Stephen Longden, SBD ITS and Telematics Specialist

Chinese map supplier, AutoNavi and navigation giant, TomTom have established a partnership to provide digital map databases and traffic information for China. Shares in the new joint venture are owned 51% by AutoNavi with TomTom holding the remaining 49%.

TomTom will use the AutoNavi mapping in its in-house navigation products and the joint venture will also market the content to other system suppliers from the automotive, location-based services and mobile phone handset industries.

The new AutoNavi/TomTom entity finally gives TomTom access to maps for the Chinese market. Before this deal TomTom’s Tele Atlas subsidiary had spent many years struggling to find the right partner in China.

TomTom’s main rival in the digital mapping world, Navteq (now part of Nokia), gained an early advantage in China by partnering with local database supplier NavInfo through a joint venture named Nav2. Garmin, the leading PND competitor to TomTom, uses Nav2 maps in China.

For more information on recognising differences in service providers and appreciating what OEMs need from Chinese partners, listen to our exclusive presentation on Telematics in China – Local Partners for Local Challenges or contact Juanita Appleby by emailing jappleby@sbd.co.uk to find out what research is available on Traffic, Navigation and Telematics in China.