Blaupunkt
Template:Short description Template:Expand Deutsch Template:Use dmy dates {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check|nested=1|template=Infobox company|cat=Template:Main other|name; company_name|logo; company_logo|logo_alt; alt|trade_name; trading_name|former_names; former_name|type; company_type|predecessors; predecessor|successors; successor|foundation; founded|founders; founder|defunct; dissolved|hq_location; location|hq_location_city; location_city|hq_location_country; location_country|num_locations; locations|areas_served; area_served|net_income; profit|net_income_year; profit_year|owners; owner |homepage; website }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox company with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | ignoreblank=y | alt | area_served | areas_served | assets | assets_year | aum | brands | company_logo | company_name | company_type | defunct | dissolved | divisions | embed | equity | equity_year | fate | footnotes | former_name | former_names | foundation | founded | founder | founders | genre | homepage | hq_location | hq_location_city | hq_location_country | incorporated | image | image_alt | image_caption | image_size | image_upright | income_year | industry | ISIN | key_people | location | location_city | location_country | locations | logo | logo_alt | logo_caption | logo_class | logo_size | logo_upright | members | members_year | module | name | native_name | native_name_lang | net_income | net_income_year | num_employees | num_employees_year | num_locations | num_locations_year | operating_income | owner | owners | parent | predecessor | predecessors | production | production_year | products | profit | profit_year | rating | ratio | revenue | revenue_year | romanized_name | services | subsid | successor | successors | traded_as | trade_name | trading_name | type | website| qid | fetchwikidata | suppressfields | noicon | nocat | demo | categories }} Blaupunkt GmbH ({{#if:De-Blaupunkt.ogg|{{#ifexist:Media:De-Blaupunkt.ogg|<phonos file="De-Blaupunkt.ogg">listen</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Blaupunkt.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}) was a German manufacturer, producing mostly car-audio gear and other electronic equipment. Owned by Robert Bosch GmbH from 1933 until 1 March 2009, it was sold to Aurelius AG of Germany. It filed for bankruptcy in late 2015<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with liquidation proceedings completed in early 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The brand, now managed by GIP Development SARL of Luxembourg, is licensed for use by various product groups worldwide.
HistoryEdit
Founded in 1924 in Berlin as "Ideal,"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the company was acquired by Robert Bosch AG in 1933.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1938 it changed its name to "Blaupunkt", German for "blue point" or "blue dot", after the blue dot painted onto its headphones that had passed quality control.
After World War II, Blaupunkt moved its headquarters and production to Hildesheim.
Blaupunkt took over a former Philips/Grundig factory in Portugal to produce automotive head units. It is still owned and operated by Bosch, used exclusively to make OEM units for car manufacturers and 24V (e.g., Coach) AV equipment. Later, factories were set up in Tunisia (speakers) and Malaysia (speakers and electronics).
In 1949, Blaupunkt advertised the first FM-capable car radio.<ref name="White">Template:Cite magazine</ref> By the 1960 and 1970s, Blaupunkt had become one of the leading German manufacturers of car radios and car audio equipment. In 1983, it began selling an in-dash CD player.<ref name="White" />
After the 2011 take-over, Blaupunkt became a managed brand name, with all production outsourced to China.
ProductsEdit
Blaupunkt was involved in developing the Autofahrer-Rundfunk-Informationssystem traffic-information system for car radios and provided this feature on their German-market car radios from the late 1970s. The company attempted to have ARI used in the United States but had only a few radio stations per major city involved.Template:Citation needed
For many years, Blaupunkt car audio equipment models often carried the name of a city somewhere in the world, e.g., "London RDM126". In Blaupunkt model terminology, this can be translated as "An RDS CD player capable of controlling a Multichanger, rated at 4×30 W RMS (4 × 30 = 120) from the model year 1996". High-end models typically had German place names.Template:Citation needed
Blaupunkt also used the brand "Velocity" to sell products aimed at the top, audiophile end of the market. Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Proton, Vauxhall, Pontiac, Holden and BMW all fit Blaupunkt (now simply Bosch) products into their cars, often branded with the car manufacturer's mark (e.g., The VW Gamma, Audi Symphony or BMW Business CD lines), with Fiat using them, occasionally unbranded but generally unmodified. Some later Holden Astra models are fitted with Blaupunkt systems (with others being produced by Delphi Automotive). Blaupunkt also specialised in coach installations, selling TVs, multiple-speaker setups, and PA equipment to that industry. That part of the business has remained with Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH. The Blaupunkt branding is no longer used, even on 'hidden' stickers.
Rockford Fosgate allianceEdit
On 12 July 2012, Blaupunkt signed an agreement with Rockford Fosgate granting the Rockford Corporation exclusive distribution rights for the company's car multimedia and headphones range for the North American market. Rockford Fosgate sold Blaupunkt products, including car radios, navigation, amplifiers, loudspeakers, rear seat entertainment, connectivity, and electronics for the OEM market through distributors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Btx-Museum 19 Blaupunkt Btx-Decoder DC 36 01 (cropped).jpg
BTX Decoder DC 36
- Blaupunkt CR-4500-8850.jpg
VHS-C camcorder CR 4500
- Blaupunkt Hamburg MP57 profile.jpeg
Hamburg MP57 head unit
- Blaupunkt PA2150 T-Amp top profile.jpeg
PA2150 Class T amplifier
- Blaupunkt-Stockholm-2.jpg
Blaupunkt-Stockholm Radio (1963)
- BlaupunktRadio1954.jpg
Blaupunkt Radio (1954)
- Blaupunkt Berlin IQR 88.jpg
Blaupunkt Berlin Radio IQR 88
- Blaupunkt Receiver.jpg
Blaupunkt Radio Receiver
- FORD Taunus 17M P2(TL) deLuxe Two door 1958 Radio Blaupunkt Köln.jpg
Radio Blaupunkt Köln (1958)
- BP74-Servicemenu-2008-05-31-03.jpg
Blaupunkt Bremen MP74
- Val 202 head unit IMG 0815.jpg
Blaupunkt Buenos Aires 200 head unit (car radio)
- BMW E46 Business CD - Blaupunkt.png
Front panel of the BMW E46 Business CD radio made by Blaupunkt
