BMW recruits Clear Channel to offer live traffic service as standard on '07 models

So the age of standard real-time navigation begins. BMW and Clear Channel Radio announced this morning that they have struck a deal to provide live traffic data to the navigation systems in select nav-equipped 2007 model-year BMWs. According to Clear Channel, the service, which will be provided by its Total Traffic Network, will be free of charge and will run for the lifetime of all equipped vehicles. Models that will feature the service include the X5, M5, M6, and other 3-, 5-, and 6-series BMWs.

Although Acura has been offering XM NavTraffic on its flagship RL model since 2005, the service is subscription based. Today's deal between BMW and Clear Channel throws down the gauntlet to other automakers who want to compete in the increasingly cutthroat and cutting-edge car tech market.

Source: Clear Channel via Autoblog