Honda boosts audio systems

The Japanese car giant has just bought a $35.8 million dollar stake in pedigree audio-video brand, Pioneer Corporation, as part of a plan to boost the audio experience in its cars.

Honda will benefit from Pioneer's market leading innovations including touch-screen head units, amplifiers, speakers and sub-woofers.

The significant investment will be handled through a third-party allotment of shares to Honda, says a Pioneer spokesman in Australia.

The Pioneer connection comes as more and more carmakers look for premium audio partners, from Bose and Bang&Olufsen to Mark Levenson at Lexus and Bowers&Wilkins at Jaguar.

The new deal comes after Pioneer posted a massive net loss of $1.66 billion for its fiscal year, which closed March 31.

Pioneer has also hammered out a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry to develop, build and sell intelligent transport systems, car navigation and audio-video systems. The link will give the Japanese company better access to price-driven Chinese manufacturing systems.

Pioneer's latest financial results are no surprise as the global economic slump has hit the world's car and audio-video manufacturers particularly hard.

Industry analysts say the way car and consumer electronics brands do business has permanently changed and most will post heavy losses this year.

Pioneer has already reacted to the global downturn by ending production of its award-winning range of plasma televisions and shedding staff globally.

The brand's core business will now by be led by car electronics, home audio-video products DJ equipment and set-top boxes.

Australian car audio fans will benefit from Pioneer's plans to streamline its local subsidiary as it intends to focus on specialist retailers and boosting customer care service.

So, your next Honda could have Pioneer's DEH-4150SD CD head unit in the dash. If you get lucky.

As well as providing crystal-clear sound quality from CDs and radio, the Pioneer has a USB connection for an iPod or iPhone.

There is also a handy SD Memory card slot for drivers or passengers who like to store music on SD cards.

And who wouldn't want their Honda supplied with one of Pioneer's 8, 10 or 12-inch subwoofers which have speaker cones made from — I kid you not — volcanic-rock fibres. The new technology adds a new meaning to subterranean bass.