Car Electronics Briefs

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Panasonic is offering a free $15 or $25 iTunes gift card with the purchase of a Panasonic iPod-ready car CD receiver through December.

To support the promotion, Panasonic is launching an Internet, podcast and radio advertising campaign. The online campaign, targeting 3,500 Web sites along with sponsored sports and news podcasts is designed to reach iPod users. The radio campaign will also sponsor Shadow Traffic reports in eight key markets.

CHICAGO — Maxxsonics is introducing a new iPod connection system that works through an outboard amplifier, rather than a head unit.

The company is offering the new MM.1system as an alternative to an FM transmitter adapter.

The MM.1 includes a control module with a volume knob, a black box receiver and cables. The MM.1 black box connects between the amplifier and the existing head unit and it also connects to the MM.1 control module. Users can then plug in their iPod, satellite radio or DVD player to the control module, which accepts only one product at a time. When an iPod is not connected to the mini jack the MM-1 defaults to the in-dash radio as its primary source. The MM-1 will ship in August at a suggested retail of $99.99.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Fusion said it is stepping up its sales efforts in the United States and is offering new lower priced products in response to retailer requests, according to Marcus Rose, sales development manager.

The New Zealand based company that entered the U.S. a few years ago, is offering three lines of amplifiers and speakers in a good, better, best approach. Fusion said it decided to exit the head unit market because of declining industry sales. It will no longer sell either CD receivers or in-dash DVD players.

The 70 new products include entry-level speakers in the Encounter series that cap at a $95 suggested retail for a subwoofer. Speakers in the mid-level Power Plant cap at $139 for a 12-inch woofer and $179 for a 15-inch woofer. The competition grade NV line includes 12-and 15-inch subwoofers with three-inch voice coils at $220 and $159. Products have a three-year warranty if installed by a Fusion dealer.