Alpine Electronics

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Japanese manufacturer of consumer electronics

title: "Alpine Electronics" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["audio-equipment-manufacturers-of-japan", "in-car-entertainment", "navigation-system-companies", "manufacturing-companies-based-in-tokyo", "electronics-companies-established-in-1967", "japanese-brands", "japanese-companies-established-in-1967", "shinagawa", "1980s-initial-public-offerings", "companies-formerly-listed-on-the-tokyo-stock-exchange"] description: "Japanese manufacturer of consumer electronics" topic_path: "engineering" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_Electronics" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Japanese manufacturer of consumer electronics ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameAlpine Electronics, Inc.
native_nameアルパイン株式会社
romanized_nameArupain Kabushiki-gaisha
logoAlpine logo.svg
logo_size200px
typeSubsidiary K.K.
foundation
former_namesAlps Motorola Co., Ltd. (1967-1978)
locationYukigayaotsukamachi
location_cityShinagawa, Tokyo
location_countryJapan
key_people(president and CEO)
revenue265,054 million Yen (2007)http://www.alpine.com/e/investor/library/pdf/kessai/ja/irline_2006_en.pdf
industryConsumer electronics
productsCar audio and automotive navigation systems
num_employees10,566 Consolidated
parentAlps Electric
homepage

| ::

|name = Alpine Electronics, Inc. |native_name = アルパイン株式会社 |romanized_name =Arupain Kabushiki-gaisha |logo = Alpine logo.svg |logo_size = 200px |image = |type = Subsidiary K.K. |foundation = |former_names = Alps Motorola Co., Ltd. (1967-1978) |location = Yukigayaotsukamachi |location_city = Shinagawa, Tokyo |location_country = Japan |key_people = (president and CEO) |revenue = 265,054 million Yen (2007)http://www.alpine.com/e/investor/library/pdf/kessai/ja/irline_2006_en.pdf |industry = Consumer electronics |products = Car audio and automotive navigation systems |num_employees = 10,566 Consolidated |parent = Alps Electric |divisions = |subsid = |homepage =

Alpine Electronics, Inc. is a Japanese consumer electronics subsidiary of the Japanese electronics component manufacturer Alps Electric, specialising in car audio and navigation systems.

Established in 1967 as Alps-Motorola – a joint venture between Alps Electric and U.S.-based Motorola – it became Alpine Electronics, Inc. in 1978 when Alps bought out Motorola's share of the company. Alpine's engineering headquarters are in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Alpine also has manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, China, and Thailand. In 2006, 76% of Alpine's revenues came from OEM sales. Honda and Volkswagen have offered unbranded audio systems manufactured by Alpine, and companies such as Jaguar, Jeep and Land Rover have offered co-branded Alpine audio systems in their vehicles.

Products and technologies

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/2010-05-12_Backseat_driver_remote_control.jpg" caption="An Alpine car audio remote control"] ::

  • 1981 – World's first automotive navigation system, created for Honda as the Electro Gyrocator
  • 1982 – World's first in-car computerized equalizer
  • 1983 – Alpine introduces their first remote control auto security systems
  • 1984 – Alpine introduces the Model 9500 Mobile Cellular Telephone
  • 1990 – 7909 CD Tuner
  • 1991 – 5700 DAT head unit
  • 1993 – 7980 world's first in-dash 3-CD changer and tuner
  • 1994 – World's first speaker utilising DDDrive Technology
  • 1998 – World's smallest CD Auto Changer
  • 2001 – World's first swivel in-dash monitor
  • 2004 – World's first Dolby Digital EX aftermarket in-car product
  • 2004 – Alpine introduced the BioLite display technology in their 2004 receiver lineup
  • 2004 – World's first company to manufacture a component which can interact with an iPod
  • 2005 – First full Class D MOST bus amplifier for the Volvo XC90
  • 2007 – iDA-x001, the first head unit developed in partnership with Apple to utilise the iPod
  • 2008 – Imprint sound processor Technology, which allows individual car audio system tuning
  • 2008 – IVA-W205R Mobile Media Station, which can house a portable Blackbird Navigation device
  • 2009 – Head units with integral bluetooth handsfree capability with an additional module
  • 2011 – ICS-X8 world's first MirrorLink enabled Mobile Media Station
  • 2017 – ILX-107 world's first in-dash receiver with wireless Apple CarPlay

Other innovations have included the Alpine F#1 Status systems and V12 AccuClass-D power amplifiers.

At the Alpine Museum in Japan there is a model "7307" radio/tape recorder (circa 1981) shot by an American (Roger Holdaway of SpeakerWorks in Orange Ca ) using a .45-caliber pistol at a distance of 4 feet (approx. 1.22 meters). The owner, frustrated with the performance of the product, shot the unit and returned it to Alpine. This gesture brought home to Alpine the importance of product quality, and as a result, they spent US$25 million on a testing and evaluation centre in Iwaki-city, Japan.

iPod devices

Alpine was one of the first in the industry to introduce in-vehicle iPod devices to allow users to control iPod playback using the head unit's front panel buttons or remote; view song information (artist, album and/or song name) on the display; and easily search for songs through the receiver's Quick Search interface. Alpine introduced the first aftermarket Interface Adapter for iPod (KCA-420i) in 2004, letting users experience optimized sound quality and control of digital music files in the car. In 2008, Alpine introduced a full line of iPod integration Digital Media Receivers. In 2009, Alpine introduced the first double-din iPod digital media station, the iXA-W404.

BioLite Display

Alpine introduced the BioLite display technology in their 2004 receiver lineup, claiming that it provides "a much wider viewing angle than conventional displays and outstanding visibility, even in harsh daylight."

Navigation devices

Alpine continues to develop in-vehicle navigation aftermarket and OEM devices. In 2004, Alpine introduced the NVE-N872A. The DVD-based NVE-N872A was Alpine's fourth generation satellite-linked navigation system, based on an Alpine in-vehicle navigation platform, which won J.D. Power awards four times in six years. In 2006, Alpine introduced their first portable navigation device, the PMD-B100. In 2008, Alpine introduced the PND-K3, an all-in-one portable navigation plus Bluetooth hands-free system. In 2009, Alpine introduced the PND-K3msn with information like traffic and weather updates.

Awards

The 1986 Buick Grand National, modified by SpeakerWorks in Orange, California, is believed to be the only vehicle ever to retire undefeated from the pro division of the national sound-off circuit. The black Buick won the Alpine Car Audio Nationals II Pro Unlimited (751 watts and up) division in 1988, and IASCA's Pro unlimited title in 1989, 1990, and 1991 before being retired by its owner, Richard Clark. Its sound system is composed of five model 3545 amplifiers and the model 7909 head unit.

Examples of vehicles equipped from the factory with Alpine equipment

thumb|2011 Power Wagon center speaker

Show cars

Miscellany

  • In 1984 Alpine acquired the Luxman brand of high-end home stereo equipment from Japanese Lux Corporation, and tried to merge their Alpine home hi-fi brand with the Luxman brand by co-branding the resulting products as Alpine/Luxman. Because of the differences in the way the products were built (Alpine used mainly standard stainless metals and plastics, Luxman used high-end exotic metals) and product lines from both brands were branded Alpine/Luxman it created brand confusion in their markets, and nearly destroyed the credibility of the Luxman brand. The company later sold off the Luxman brand in 1994 to concentrate fully on the car audio business.
  • Between 1992 and 1995, Ford Australia offered a premium sound system developed in conjunction with Alpine to their high-end Fairlane and LTD models.
  • In the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Bond featured an Alpine 7817R CD Tuner which acted as a communication device and doubled as a colour printer/fax.
  • In the past, Alpine sponsored a driver from the Andretti Green racing team in the IndyCar Series. After sponsoring Dario Franchitti in 2005 and Marco Andretti in 2006, they sponsored Tony Kanaan in 2007 and 2008.

Sponsorship

Between 2001 and 2003, Alpine was the main kit sponsor of Spanish La Liga club Deportivo Alavés.

References

References

  1. "Alpine Electronics Inc - Company Profile and News".
  2. "Alpine car audio {{!}} Vehicle audio".
  3. [http://www.dolby.com www.dolby.com]
  4. "Alpine CSR Report 2009".
  5. (2014-07-20). "1998-02 Lincoln Navigator".
  6. [http://www.caraudiomag.com/v_features/0207cae_2002_acura_rsx/ 2002 Acura RSX – Featured Cars – Car Audio Magazine] {{webarchive. link. (2006-12-07)
  7. [http://www.caraudiomag.com/competition_corner/0309cae_september_2003_alpine_honda_civic/ September 2003, Alpine Honda Civic - Competition Corner - Car Audio Magazine] {{webarchive. link. (2006-12-08)
  8. "Crutchfield Articles & Videos".
  9. "Loading...".
  10. "Alpine Electronics of America, Inc".
  11. "Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. - Alpine Sport Boat".
  12. "YouTube, a Google company".
  13. "Aston Martin DB5 - James Bond Cars & Vehicles".
  14. [http://www.marcoandretti.com/sponsors.htm Marco Andretti – Sponsors] {{webarchive. link. (2006-10-18)

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audio-equipment-manufacturers-of-japanin-car-entertainmentnavigation-system-companiesmanufacturing-companies-based-in-tokyoelectronics-companies-established-in-1967japanese-brandsjapanese-companies-established-in-1967shinagawa1980s-initial-public-offeringscompanies-formerly-listed-on-the-tokyo-stock-exchange