Magellan Navigation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | GPS navigation devices |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Fate | Consumer division acquired by Mio Technology in 2008; renamed MiTAC Digital Corporation |
| Successor | MiTAC Digital Corporation (consumer division) |
| Headquarters | San Dimas, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | GPS receivers, automotive navigation systems, handheld navigators, mapping software |
| Owner | Shah Capital Partners (after 2006) |
Magellan Navigation, Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in both consumer and professional GPS receivers, named in honor of the explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The company’s headquarters are located in San Dimas, California, with additional sales and engineering offices situated in Nantes, France and Moscow, Russia. Magellan produces aftermarket automotive GPS devices, including the Hertz Neverlost system implemented in vehicles rented through Hertz. Its current consumer product range features the Maestro, RoadMate, Triton, and eXplorist series. Additionally, the company offers proprietary mapping solutions such as DirectRoute for road navigation, Topo for topographic mapping, and BlueNav for marine charting tailored to its GPS units.
History
Originally established as an independent entity, Magellan was acquired by Orbital Sciences Corporation in 1994. Later, in 2001, Thales Group purchased the division from Orbital Sciences for approximately $70 million and rebranded it as Thales Navigation. Five years afterward, Shah Capital Partners, a private equity firm, bought Thales Navigation for $170 million and reinstated the Magellan Navigation name.
Magellan was a pioneer with the NAV 1000, introduced in 1989 as the first commercially available handheld GPS receiver. In 1997, it launched the GSC 100, the earliest handheld global satellite communicator. The company’s subsequent consumer offerings included models such as GPS 2000, GPS 315, Meridian, SporTrak, and RoadMate. For professional users like surveyors and GIS specialists, Magellan developed advanced devices including the MobileMapper CE and ProMark3.
In December 2008, Mio Technology—part of MiTAC—acquired Magellan’s consumer division and rebranded it to "MiTAC Digital Corporation."
Consumer products
Magellan designs navigation systems for vehicles, crossover GPS devices suitable for both automotive and handheld use, as well as outdoor handheld navigators. The company also creates customized mapping software supporting topographic, marine, and street navigation applications.
As of 2016, prominent offerings include:
- Portable car navigation systems such as Magellan RoadMate and Maestro
- Magellan CrossoverGPS units designed for use both inside vehicles and on foot
- Outdoor handheld devices including the Magellan eXplorist and Triton series
- The Hertz NeverLost automotive navigation system
- TRX Off-Road navigation solutions from Magellan
Many Magellan products feature capabilities like three-dimensional bird’s-eye perspectives, night mode viewing, and pop-up turn indicators. Several models incorporate SiRFstarIII technology to achieve location accuracy within three meters while providing voice-guided and on-screen driving instructions. Certain vehicle systems enable Bluetooth connectivity with mobile phones along with real-time traffic information. The Maestro 4050 holds distinction as the first portable navigation device equipped with voice command functionality. Furthermore, a collaboration with AAA allows select units to offer AAA TourBook travel guides, roadside assistance details, and information on member discounts.
Maps
Magellan devices rely on maps based on Navteq data. Map errors are addressed through Navteq’s Map Reporter platform where users and partners can submit corrections directly via this feedback system.
See also
- Automotive navigation system
- Garmin
- GLONASS
- Map database management
- Navigon
- Point of interest
- Satmap
- TeleType Co., Inc.
- TomTom
External links
- Magellan Consumer GPS
- Navteq Map Reporter
- Maps4me.de: Complimentary OpenStreetMap for Magellan devices
- Openstreetmap.org: OSM Map on Magellan — information regarding Magellan map creation.
- Magellan GPS Map Updates
- Magellan Roadmate Update
- Articles with short description
- Navigation system companies
- Technology companies based in Greater Los Angeles
- Companies based in Los Angeles County, California
- San Dimas, California
- American companies established in 1986
- Technology companies established in 1986
- 1986 establishments in California
- Science and technology in Greater Los Angeles