Navteq expects to complete its initial mapping of seven eastern European countries by the end of 2004. This accelerated build plan is part of the company’s effort to offer a comprehensive navigable map of Eastern Europe that will facilitate pan-European routing.
As the eastern European population grows, there is increased consumer and business interest in navigable solutions that support routing to, from and throughout western and Eastern Europe.
Navteq currently offers maps of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Greece. Over the course of the next four months, the company plans to finalize initial navigable maps of the road networks of major urban areas and the connector roads between these areas in Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Croatia, along with connector road coverage of the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
These maps will integrate with Navteq maps of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the bordering Western European countries. The result of this initiative: a navigable map that can route drivers from Barcelona to Budapest, from Rome to Riga.
“Our strategy has always been to anticipate and identify countries and cities where our customers want to offer products and services,” said John MacLeod, Executive Vice President – Global Marketing & Strategy for Navteq.
“Navteq’s aggressive build out of Eastern Europe is a direct result of this strategy. Our field team is working hard to make it possible for us to offer this regional product that will allow drivers to route from city to city and country to country.”
Due to the highly complex process involved in compiling and integrating Navteq Maps into navigation systems and location-based solutions, it may take up to one year for consumers to have access to these new maps for their navigation solutions.
