2022
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Every virtuous enterprise is first and foremost a company rooted in its local territory and social fabric, understood as the people who live there, its economic, environmental and artistic resources, its culture, history and values: the same production in a different place cannot but produce different results.
Phonocar, on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, has therefore decided to open its doors to its employees’ friends and family, presenting itself and offering the opportunity to visit its work spaces, meet the people who work there, understand the production dynamics starting from the manufacturing lines, promote its wealth of knowledge and prowess in keeping up with the times.
Because doing business also means speaking with people, giving back to the local territory what it has given to the company, in terms of both uniqueness but also with an eye to the future.
UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFICATION
The company has obtained UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certification for the design, manufacture and marketing of its multimedia, car hi-fi, and car accessory products.
COMPANY VALUES
• EXPERIENCE: understood as acquired knowledge, but also possible new frontiers to be explored, is one of the underlying values of the company’s work.
• QUALITY: customer satisfaction inspires us to continue striving for the highest quality standards in relation to both the product and our business/administrative relations.
• INNOVATION: work is always advancing, and so are we. Cutting-edge technology, foreign markets, technical materials are just some of the company’s objectives to make sure we stay competitive in a continuously evolving market.
• HUMAN RESOURCES: the company is made up of people, each playing a precious role. A small company like ours requires the highest level of care and search for committed people, dedicated to their work, who can grow with and within the company.
2021
Vodafone Automotive
SATELLITE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMS
The collaboration with Vodafone Automotive is consolidated in 2021 with an agreement for connected products.
2020
TARGA TELEMATICS
The collaboration with Targa Telematics begins with the aim of developing the SVR (Stolen Vehicle Recovery) market.
2018
Phonocar Security
Requests by installers, following the distribution of Vodafone Automotive products, are taken up by our technicians, who study products and accessories that expand the possibilities for installation and customisation of alarms and parking sensors.
2017
Vodafone Automotive
ALARMS
PARKING SENSORS
The collaboration with Vodafone Automotive begins in 2017 with an agreement for the distribution of non-connected products (alarms and parking sensors).
2013
Car manufacturer partnerships
Thanks to the experience gained in the aftermarket, Phonocar becomes the partner of choice for car manufacturers, dealing with:
- OVERSIGHT OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, from design to packaging
- DEVELOPMENT OF BRANDED PRODUCTS
- ORGANISATION OF ACTIVITIES AT DEALERSHIPS:
training, product presentations, installation courses, sell-out support, partnerships for events, trade fairs and conventions - SUPPORT SERVICE
- CATALOGUES AND FLYERS
VOLKSWAGEN:
development of navigation systems
IVECO:
dedicated OEM first fit products
and the Official Accessories line
PARTNERS:
Audi, Ford, Isuzu, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz,
Nissan, Seat, Škoda, Smart, Toyota.
2006
Multimedia
Presentation of the new line dedicated to multimedia and car entertainment systems.
A new and important chapter opens in Phonocar’s history:
the aftermarket demands new products offering enhanced performance and in-car entertainment without neglecting the ongoing need for customisation.
Design begins to focus on upgrading the standard equipment: multimedia systems, monitors, drives, etc.
In this context, interfaces become the flagship product for installers, who now have the freedom to modify and/or implement OEM systems without renouncing functionality.
- DVD DRIVES
- HIGH-QUALITY SCREENS
- EARPHONES
- MICRO CAMERAS
- NAVIGATORS
- INTERFACES
- STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS
- SERVICE INTERFACES
- AUDIO/VIDEO INTERFACES
2000
ECAP award
Phonocar wins the ECAP award for the best European multi-channel power amplifier with “Dream”, an 8-channel amplifier with adjustable crossover from the driver’s seat.
1997
25th anniversary
1993
The first acquisition
Phonocar takes over a speaker manufacturing company, allowing it to design and build components with very precise and distinct specifications, in-house.
1987
From small enterprise to industry
Constant growth leads to the transition from snc to S.p.A. and the opening of a new 6000 m2 plant in Via Emilia, still the company’s headquarters today.
A huge step and enormous visibility
The foreign market continues to play a key role:
- in 1991 a new branch is opened near Ludwigsburg (Stuttgart district) in Germany
- in 1995 a new branch is opened in the south of France, employing 5 VRP salesman
- it has a network of direct agents and exclusive distributors in Belgium, Spain and Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark and Sweden.
Company
Press review
Rally Appennino Reggiano Sponsor
Tuning fairs and meet-ups
1981
The revolution in HI-FI systems
REAR SHELF CAR SPEAKERS
HI-FI systems spread at lightning speed, but are “limited” by the installation of car speakers in the doors only.
With the introduction of wooden panels allowing the installation of large-sized speakers in the rear of the vehicle, Phonocar radically overturns this concept.
A genuine innovation demonstrating the company’s dynamic and enterprising nature, backed by its production flexibility and the technical expertise of its staff.
DETACHABLE FACEPLATES
The rapid diffusion of car stereos brings with it a sharp rise in theft, leading to the production of the first detachable faceplates.
1980
The HI-FI line is born
HI-FI CAR
The production and sale of consoles increases in step with the rapid spread of car radios.
The CAR HI-FI concept doesn’t yet exist, but Phonocar perceives that everything to do with “listening to music in the car” has great potential.
With the first speakers and the first amplifier, a decision is made to separate “accessory” components of car radio installations from the constituents of the system itself: the HI-FI Line is thus born, with its first dedicated catalogue in 1980.
• 1976 – DOOR SPEAKERS
audio switches from MONO to STEREO
• UNIVERSAL/CUSTOMISED
• 1977 – SPEAKER KITS FOR CAR RADIOS
consisting of 2 woofers, 2 tweeters and 2 crossovers
first company to propose the KIT
• 1978 – POWER BOX
the first Phonocar branded amplifier
1972 Foundation
Founded as
“FABBRICA CONSOLLES E ACCESSORI AUTORADIO”
What are “tunnel centre consoles”?
They are wooden fabrications that when attached to the central part of the dashboard, allowed the installation of a car radio and an integrated central speaker (MONO).
They were commonly called “Tunnels” because they were installed at the “transmission tunnel” found in cars of that era.
The broad range included both “universal” and “custom-fit” consoles specifically for certain car makes.
Most also included a glove box and/or ash tray in addition to the speaker.
For certain car makes, consoles were even made with a gear stick cover to accommodate the gear shift as well.
European and Italian MARKET.
PRODUCTS
WOODEN TUNNEL CENTRE CONSOLE
WITH CAR RADIO AND SPEAKER COMPARTMENT FOR CARS AND TRUCKS:
• UNIVERSAL
compatible with numerous brands and relative car makes
• CUSTOMISED
specifically for certain car makes
A few examples of historic cars for which consoles were made:
ALFA ROMEO Alfa Sud, Alfetta
AUDI 80z
AUTOBIANCHI A/112
BMW 520, 3000
CITROËN DS, Pallas, e Dyane
FIAT 500, 126, 127, 128
FORD Capri, Escort, Fiesta
INNOCENTI Mini minor
OPEL Kadett
PEUGEOT 104
TOYOTA Corolla
VOLKSWAGEN Passat, Golf
