Founded 10 May 1967, Tokyo, Japan | Number of employees 10,566 Consolidated CEO Toru Usami (Jun 2010–) | |
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Key people Seizo Ishiguro, Chairman ; Toru Usami, President and CEO Revenue 265,054 million Yen (2007)[1] Stock price 6816 (TYO) JP¥ 1,665 -14.00 (-0.83%)24 Feb, 3:00 PM GMT+9 - Disclaimer Profiles | ||
The lovely alpine electronics passat demo car
Alpine Electronics, Inc. (アルパイン株式会社, Arupain Kabushiki-gaisha) is the consumer electronics subsidiary of the Japanese electronics component manufacturer Alps Electric, specializing in car audio and navigation systems.
Contents
- The lovely alpine electronics passat demo car
- Company logo
- Notable products and technologies
- Alpines iPod devices
- Alpines BioLite Display
- Alpines Navigation devices
- Awards
- Examples of vehicles equipped from the factory with Alpine equipment
- Alpine show cars
- Miscellany
- References
Alpine's engineering headquarters are in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Alpine also has manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, China, and Thailand.
In 2006, 76% of Alpine's revenues came from OEM sales. BMW and Honda have offered unbranded audio systems manufactured by Alpine, and companies such as Dodge and Jaguar Cars have offered co-branded Alpine audio systems in their vehicles.
Established in 1967 as Alps-Motorola — a joint venture between Alps Electric and U.S.-based Motorola — it became Alpine Electronics, Inc. in 1978 when Alps bought out Motorola's share of the company.
Alpine offers a wide range of items, including in-car multimedia, amplifiers, speakers, subwoofers and signal processing equipment. In 2008, Alpine introduced a full line of marine sound system products.
Company logo
The five stripes in the Alpine logo were added in 1987. Originally light blue to contrast with the letters which were in dark blue, they were later changed to one colour. The stripes stand for different aspects of Alpine's philosophy.
Notable products and technologies
Other innovations have included the Alpine F#1 Status systems and V12 AccuClass-D power amplifiers.
At the Alpine Museum in Japan there is a model "7307" radio/tape recorder (circa 1981) shot by an American (Roger Holdaway of SpeakerWorks in Orange Ca) using a .45-caliber pistol at a distance of 4 feet. The owner, frustrated with the performance of the product, shot the unit and returned it to Alpine. This gesture brought home to Alpine the importance of product quality, and as a result they spent US$25 million on a testing and evaluation centre in Iwaki-city, Japan.
Alpine's iPod devices
Alpine was one of the first in the industry to introduce in-vehicle iPod devices to allow users to control iPod playback using the head unit's front panel buttons or remote; view song information (artist, album and/or song name) on the display; and easily search for songs through the receiver's Quick Search interface. Alpine introduced the first aftermarket Interface Adapter for iPod (KCA-420i) in 2004, letting users experience optimized sound quality and control of digital music files in the car. In 2008, Alpine introduced a full line of iPod integration Digital Media Receivers. In 2009, Alpine introduced the first double-din iPod digital media station, the iXA-W404.
Alpine's BioLite Display
Alpine introduced the BioLite display technology in their 2004 receiver lineup, claiming that it provides "a much wider viewing angle than conventional displays and outstanding visibility, even in harsh daylight."
Alpine's Navigation devices
Alpine continues to develop in-vehicle navigation aftermarket and OEM devices. In 2004, Alpine introduced the NVE-N872A in 2005. The DVD-based NVE-N872A was Alpine's fourth generation satellite-linked navigation system, based on an Alpine in-vehicle navigation platform, which won J.D. Power awards four times in six years. In 2006, Alpine introduced their first portable navigation device, the PMD-B100. In 2008, Alpine introduced the PND-K3, an all-in-one portable navigation plus Bluetooth hands-free system. In 2009, Alpine introduced the PND-K3msn with information like traffic and weather updates.
Awards
The 1986 Buick Grand National, modified by SpeakerWorks in Orange, California, is believed to be the only vehicle ever to retire undefeated from the pro division of the national sound-off circuit. The black Buick won the Alpine Car Audio Nationals II Pro Unlimited (751 watts and up) division in 1988, and IASCA's Pro unlimited title in 1989, 1990, and 1991 before being retired by its owner, Richard Clark. Its sound system is composed of five model 3545 amplifiers and the model 7909 headunit.