Garmin Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation, this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. In 1989 co-founders Garry Burrell and Dr. Min Kao set out with a vision to utilize GPS technology for the consumer market. Over the course of the last 25 years, Garmin made that vision a reality and pioneered many new product categories, evolving into a global technology leader for automotive, mobile, outdoor, marine, fitness, and aviation products.
“To this day Garmin is still driven by the entrepreneurial spirit of our founders, which has enabled us to constantly push new boundaries and enter new markets,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin President and CEO. “Our strategy of vertical integration has enabled us to foster a culture of innovation, giving us full control over the entire development process of a product, from idea to market. Garmin today is more diversified than ever with unique product offerings that are sought after for their compelling design, superior quality, and best value.”
Garmin serves customers in more varied markets than any other GPS manufacturer and has grown to employ more than 10,000 associates in 45 offices around the world. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin went public on the NASDAQ stock market in 2000 and became a component of the S&P 500 index in 2012.
Garmin has introduced many industry-first products throughout the years. A stalwart in the general aviation industry, Garmin innovated the digital cockpit, first with the GNS® 430 and 530 (1997) and has grown into the Part 25 business jet market with the G5000™ glass cockpit (2010). Since the beginning, Garmin has also been a leader in the marine market, designing some of the industry’s earliest GPS chartplotters (GPSMAP® 210, 1994), on up to the state-of-the-art integrated Garmin Marine Network.
Already a household name in the aviation and marine markets, the company did it again in the outdoor market with the GPS 12XL (1996) and the iconic eTrex® series (1999). Garmin introduced the first GPS with a moving map (GPS 95, 1993) and went on to pioneer the GPS market for automobiles with the first portable mapping GPS for automobiles (StreetPilot®, 1998). Garmin was also one of the first companies to embrace wearable and fitness technology with the introduction of the first GPS-enabled wrist-worn fitness device (Forerunner®, 2003) and the first GPS-enabled cycling computer (Edge®, 2006).
Garmin continues to innovate and just recently launched a whole range of unique products in new markets. In 2013, Garmin entered the action camera market with VIRB and VIRB Elite, launched HUD, an aftermarket head-up display for in-car navigation, as well as Vector, our first power pedals for cyclists, and K2, a full Garmin glass cockpit for the car. At CES 2014, Garmin unveiled vivofit, the first fitness band with more than one year of battery life.
In its 25 years, Garmin has sold 126 million units since its inception. Find out more about the history of Garmin here www.garmin.com/uk/25years/
About Garmin International Inc.
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. A component of the S&P 500 index, Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at http://garmin.blogs.com/ukpr/
Garmin, GNS, GPSMAP, eTrex, StreetPilot, Forerunner, and Edge areregistered trademarks, and G5000, VIRB, Vector, and vívofit are trademarks of Garmin Ltd or its subsidiaries.
