TomTom, AutoNavi to deliver HD traffic in China

Dutch navigation systems manufacturer TomTom and Chinese digital map content and navigation provider AutoNavi are set to introduce real-time HD Traffic to drivers across China, both companies announced on Wednesday. HD Traffic is a navigation product that provides precise delay times and the exact location of traffic jams. The Dutch-Chinese joint venture hopes to cover up to 30 Chinese cities by the end of 2013. "This agreement is an important step in enabling drivers to save time and money when finding their way to destinations on increasingly congested Chinese roads," Ralf-Peter Schafer, head of TomTom Traffic Product Unit, said in a press release. In October 2010, TomTom and AutoNavi announced a joint venture, held 51 percent by the Chinese part and 49 percent by the Dutch company. "Partnering with TomTom to deliver HD Traffic demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality products in the industry and reflects our position as a valued partner," AutoNavi's CEO Congwu Cheng said. "The combination of TomTom HD Traffic's superior technology along with AutoNavi's data acquisition capability through our tens of millions of mobile device users will enable us to deliver cutting-edge traffic services to our customers." At the end of last year, 1.5 million people around the globe were using TomTom HD Traffic, a huge jump from 690,000 people at the start of the year.