Panasonic Acquires Audio Streaming Platform Provider Aupeo GmbH

SECAUCUS, N.J., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation of North America and its division company Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America today announced the acquisition of Aupeo GmbH, a leading content and audio streaming service and technology platform provider, based in Berlin, Germany. Aupeo has global reach providing consumers with a unique content experience, and its acquisition will further enhance the leading-edge technology and customer relationship tools Panasonic is able to offer its automotive customers.

"Providing connected services and mobile content delivery that both appeal to consumers and enable product differentiation is critical to the automotive industry," said Tom Gebhardt, President of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America.  "There is a considerable need for a connected and personalized media content platform that enables consumers to access content on any device while also enabling businesses to have a richer relationship with their customers.  Conventional consumer-focused music and content services do not address all the needs of car manufacturers. Aupeo's technologies and content delivery platform provide a solution that is complementary to Panasonic's automotive, business-to-business and business-to-consumer product lines."

"Aupeo was founded with a clear vision to deliver online and seamless content services to internet-connected devices," said Holger G. Weiss, CEO of Aupeo. "At that point, we saw the car as our most important focus. It is exciting to become a part of the Panasonic family as our industry continues to grow rapidly and mature.  Aupeo and Panasonic remain deeply committed to providing current and potential customers in all industries with leading global music and audio streaming services and technologies."

Aupeo was established in Berlin in 2008 by Armin G. Schmidt. Today, Aupeo is licensed to operate streaming services in more than 40 countries, offering consumers a rich personalized music experience.  Aupeo also offers consumers more than 6,000 channels of terrestrial radio, podcast streaming and other services and will continue to rapidly deploy new products to meet the demands of end-users as well as Panasonic's customers in the automotive and other industries.  For more information on Aupeo,visit corporate.aupeo.com

About Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America
Based in Peachtree City, GA, and with Detroit-area operations located in Farmington Hills, MI, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division company of Secaucus, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of Osaka, Japan, one of the world's leading developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, together with Panasonic Corporation's Automotive and Industrial Systems Company, coordinate global automotive industry systems and component operations.  For more information on Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America please visit www.panasonic.com/automotive

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SOURCE Panasonic