By Matthew Henry
SYDNEY: Premium speaker brand Bowers & Wilkins has signed a deal with Harman Kardon which could see its speakers increasingly used by luxury auto makers for their in-car audio systems.
The global deal makes Harmon Kardon the agent for B&W to the premium OEM automotive sector, which is currently implementing name brand entertainment systems to enhance their offering.
B&W has previously signed a deal with Jaguar, owned by Ford, for premium audio systems in their cars. But according to B&W, the alliance with Harman Kardon will further extend the brand’s presence in the automotive space.
Under the terms of the agreement, Harman will design and develop new branded audio solutions in collaboration with B&W, blending each company’s technical strengths.
“This partnership adds a rich dimension to our automotive business, where brand differentiation is increasingly desired by both OEM customers and their end users,” said Harman Kardon CEO, Dinesh Paliwal.
“Leading luxury automakers are currently installing solutions based on Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson, and other brands. We are delighted to add the legendary Bowers & Wilkins name to Harman’s family of premium brands, and we look forward to further enriching this important market segment.”