Low-Cost sat nav boosts TotalPDA

Sales at the technology firm TotalPDA have doubled in the past year thanks to the growth of lower-cost in-car satellite navigation systems writes John Penman.

The Glasgow-based firm has increased turnover from 5.9m last year to just more than 10.1 m this year as the price of sat-nav systems fell.

Total PDA is one of the market leaders in providing a wide range of in-car sat-nav systems including TomTom, Navman and Mitac.

Mark Antliff, the managing director, said that advances in technology meant many systems are now well within the budget of ordinary drivers.

"New systems sit in a cradle on the car’s dashboard and provide verbal instructions along the route as well as a moving on-screen map," he said.

However, Antliff said the increase in sales was not purely down to the sat-nav boom.

"We have purposefully broadened the range we now offer and our website has proved particularly successful," he said.

The company is now looking towards Europe with a view to further expansion.