Thales has retained the Derema Group, a national manufacturer's representative firm, to provide national sales coverage to dealers and distributors in the outdoor, marine, sporting goods and specialty automotive markets. In addition, Thales is growing its direct sales force with internal sales representatives dedicated to direct and frequent communication with Magellan dealers and distributors.

"The consumer GPS business is growing and changing dramatically, so the change to a national sales rep organization will help us enhance sales coverage and business development while better serving the needs of our dealer and distributor network in this quickly evolving business," said Spike Bloom, Thales' vice president of consumer sales for the Americas. "We understand that our success in the channel is driven at the retail floor so we are significantly expanding our investment in storefront sales support along with integrated sales and marketing programs to achieve the optimal amount of face-to-face and tele-sales call coverage possible."

Thales and the Derema Group plan to fully integrate their field sales, field support and marketing efforts to provide faster, more efficient tools and support for sales, promotions, merchandising and training for more than 800 channel partners and their retail locations through a single sales organization. "No other company has a national relationship of this scope in the consumer GPS business today," added Bloom.

To ensure a smooth transition, Thales' existing sales rep groups have agreed to continue supporting Magellan dealers as the primary sales contact during the first quarter of 2005. Thales' inside-sales team will continue to provide services to Magellan dealers and distributors as well.

"The Derema Group is looking forward to working with Thales in carrying out the company's commitment to being the premium supplier of GPS products and solutions," said Chris DeRecat, President of the Derema Group. "We are confident that our national rep team will deliver results that will be equally beneficial to Thales and its broad network of Magellan resellers."

Thales' Magellan navigation products include eXplorist handheld GPS receivers and Magellan RoadMate portable vehicle navigation devices. To learn more, visit www.magellangps.com.

About Thales' navigation business

Thales' navigation business unit develops and manufactures world leading positioning, navigation and guidance equipment. It markets its Magellan brand GPS solutions in the consumer electronics, recreation, and automotive markets, and its GPS and GNSS professional products in the survey, GIS/Mapping, and OEM markets. Key innovations include the first U.S. commercial hand-held GPS receiver for positioning and navigation, and the first handheld GPS with industry standard Secure Digital Memory Card capabilities. Thales' navigation business unit is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA and has worldwide operations. For more information, visit http://www.thalesgroup.com/navigation.