Heather Moore
(831) 336-4014
For Immediate Release

Autotrak & GM's Navigator Guides You Home

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Nov 10, 1998) -- Are you tired of always having to stop to ask directions? Or maybe, tired of your partner asking you to stop and get directions? Starting November 27--just in time for Christmas--you won't have to play that game anymore. The Navigator, brought to you by Autotrack and GM, eliminates not only the need for maps, but any further embarrassment on your part.

The Navigator is the world's first vehicle navigation system. A moveable color screen displays a continuous, electronic road map pinpointing the car's location and the adjacent streets. The screen can be mounted in front of the driver or, even better, in front of a passenger, so you don't have to try to figure things out on the fly.

However, even if you're alone in the car, the Navigator keeps track of where you are and where you're going. Your destination is marked on screen by a flashing red star, meaning that's one less thing you have to mentally juggle en route. In times of emergency, it's crucial to know the fastest way to get help. That's why the screen also shows local hospitals and emergency centers in blue, as well as the roads (green) and your present location (yellow).

Auto parts stores nationwide will begin carrying the Navigator on the day after Thanksgiving. The cost of the screen and installation is under $700, with additional electronic maps (currently only for major cities and highways) $35 each. But if you're planning to buy a new GM car next summer, the Navigator will come pre-installed in all GM vehicles as part of an Autotrack-GM venture.

''This system blows the need for traditional folding maps out of the arena,'' said Scott Matthews, GM spokesperson. ''That means our GM customers can get wherever they need to go faster and more efficiently than ever before,'' Matthews said.

''People don't need to have the annoyance and inconvenience of getting lost anymore,'' said Autotrack CEO Kyle Meltzer, adding that the Navigator ''makes for a lot less angry, frustrated drivers on the road, making trips safer and happier for everyone.''