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TomTom reduces sales forecast TomTom reduces sales forecast
(about 1 hour later)
TomTom cut its full-year revenue forecast on Tuesday, citing falling sales of its built-in car navigation devices in Europe.TomTom cut its full-year revenue forecast on Tuesday, citing falling sales of its built-in car navigation devices in Europe.
Europe's largest navigation device maker and one of the top three digital map makers globally is trying to increase sales of its navigation gadgets and services to carmakers to offset the declining popularity of personal sat-navs.Europe's largest navigation device maker and one of the top three digital map makers globally is trying to increase sales of its navigation gadgets and services to carmakers to offset the declining popularity of personal sat-navs.
But the European car market has been shrinking as a result of the region's debt crisis, with sales in September falling at their fastest pace in the last 12 months as government spending cuts bite and unemployment rises.But the European car market has been shrinking as a result of the region's debt crisis, with sales in September falling at their fastest pace in the last 12 months as government spending cuts bite and unemployment rises.
TomTom said on Tuesday it now expected 2012 revenue to be around €1.05bn (£850m), down from an earlier forecast of €1.10bn.TomTom said on Tuesday it now expected 2012 revenue to be around €1.05bn (£850m), down from an earlier forecast of €1.10bn.
"The European economic situation is having a significant impact on the automotive industry. We expect our automotive revenue to remain under pressure in the coming quarters," chief executive Harold Goddijn said in a statement."The European economic situation is having a significant impact on the automotive industry. We expect our automotive revenue to remain under pressure in the coming quarters," chief executive Harold Goddijn said in a statement.
TomTom customers, including PSA Peugot Citroen, Renault and Fiat, have suffered some of the biggest declines in car sales in Europe.TomTom customers, including PSA Peugot Citroen, Renault and Fiat, have suffered some of the biggest declines in car sales in Europe.
TomTom reported a 23% fall in third-quarter net profit to €22m, beating forecasts as the firm cut costs.SNS Securities analyst Martijn den Drijver said TomTom's car division was hit more than he expected due to much lower sales at Renault and Fiat, combined with new contract extensions not yet contributing to revenue.TomTom reported a 23% fall in third-quarter net profit to €22m, beating forecasts as the firm cut costs.SNS Securities analyst Martijn den Drijver said TomTom's car division was hit more than he expected due to much lower sales at Renault and Fiat, combined with new contract extensions not yet contributing to revenue.
Group revenue fell 19 percent from the same period last year, with a 24 percent fall at the consumer unit and a 16 percent drop at the automotive division.Group revenue fell 19 percent from the same period last year, with a 24 percent fall at the consumer unit and a 16 percent drop at the automotive division.
Its shares have fallen from a record high of €56 in 2007 to €3.9 as smartphones with cheap or free navigation software curb demand for its personal navigation devices.Its shares have fallen from a record high of €56 in 2007 to €3.9 as smartphones with cheap or free navigation software curb demand for its personal navigation devices.
Goddijn declined to give any outlook for PNDs or for the automotive sector next year and also declined to comment about recent problems raised by Apple customers about the quality of Apple's latest app for maps.Goddijn declined to give any outlook for PNDs or for the automotive sector next year and also declined to comment about recent problems raised by Apple customers about the quality of Apple's latest app for maps.
TomTom competes in the PND market with Garmin and in the commercial digital map market with Google and Nokia.TomTom competes in the PND market with Garmin and in the commercial digital map market with Google and Nokia.
Comments
5 comments, displaying first
30 October 2012 9:10PM
So its not because people have realised that their maps are overpriced, or that others like Google and Nokia have broken their business structure?
Link to this comment:
30 October 2012 9:28PM
Not at all surprising...
Got my first and last Tom Tom 4 years ago... used it for few months, till I bought a smartphone and discovered Google Maps did a much better job and didn't charge you for updates!
Link to this comment:
30 October 2012 9:57PM
TomTom's iOS app is very good, if somewhat expensive. And they've never charged me for updates, either to the app or the maps. I certainly hope this isn't the beginning of the end, but it's hard to compete with free.
Link to this comment:
30 October 2012 10:04PM
good. The touchscreen on a tom-tom is painful to use after the ease of a smartphone.
The nerve they have to expect you to fork out over £100 for an up to date map is astounding.
Bye bye tom tom.
Link to this comment:
31 October 2012 1:05AM
March of the Wooden Soldiers?
Link to this comment:
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Smartphone software and Europe's debt crisis blamed for decline of personal car navigation systems
TomTom cut its full-year revenue forecast on Tuesday, citing falling sales of its built-in car navigation devices in Europe.
Europe's largest navigation device maker and one of the top three digital map makers globally is trying to increase sales of its navigation gadgets and services to carmakers to offset the declining popularity of personal sat-navs.
But the European car market has been shrinking as a result of the region's debt crisis, with sales in September falling at their fastest pace in the last 12 months as government spending cuts bite and unemployment rises.
TomTom said on Tuesday it now expected 2012 revenue to be around €1.05bn (£850m), down from an earlier forecast of €1.10bn.
"The European economic situation is having a significant impact on the automotive industry. We expect our automotive revenue to remain under pressure in the coming quarters," chief executive Harold Goddijn said in a statement.
TomTom customers, including PSA Peugot Citroen, Renault and Fiat, have suffered some of the biggest declines in car sales in Europe.
TomTom reported a 23% fall in third-quarter net profit to €22m, beating forecasts as the firm cut costs.SNS Securities analyst Martijn den Drijver said TomTom's car division was hit more than he expected due to much lower sales at Renault and Fiat, combined with new contract extensions not yet contributing to revenue.
Group revenue fell 19 percent from the same period last year, with a 24 percent fall at the consumer unit and a 16 percent drop at the automotive division.
Its shares have fallen from a record high of €56 in 2007 to €3.9 as smartphones with cheap or free navigation software curb demand for its personal navigation devices.
Goddijn declined to give any outlook for PNDs or for the automotive sector next year and also declined to comment about recent problems raised by Apple customers about the quality of Apple's latest app for maps.
TomTom competes in the PND market with Garmin and in the commercial digital map market with Google and Nokia.