Blaupunkt Americas is relaunching the Blaupunkt brand in the US with car audio chain, Freeman’s Car Stereo, NC, serving as the first authorized dealer to offer the line.
Brian Tedesco, President/CEO Blaupunkt Americas has joined with David Wall, CEO Freeman’s Car Stereo for the relaunch of the once leading car radio brand. Blaupunkt will be positioned as a direct-to-dealers-only, Tier 2 brand with selective distribution and strong competitive margins under a Minimum Advertised Protection policy.
For his part, Wall helped to shape the dealer programs for the new line. Freeman’s is currently selling the first new Blaupunkt radio, a wireless CarPlay model at $449 MAP. Other models will follow shortly. And Blaupunkt will be signing up other dealers. Full supplies of Blaupunkt radios will be available within 60 days, said the company.
Tedesco’s relationship with Freeman’s Car Stereo began in 2021 when he brought his Porsche into Freeman’s Charlotte location for installation of a Blaupunkt MonteCarlo 750 radio. During that job, Tedesco revealed to store manager, Robert Yates, that he was the CEO of Blaupunkt Latin America Division and that he lived in Charlotte.
Given the shortages of radios at the time, Yates connected Tedesco to Freeman’s Wall. From there, the relationship developed, resulting in the reintroduction of Blaupunkt in the United States.
“Blaupunkt is still a name that consumers recognize and trust, and we look forward to working with Brian to continue building the brand again here in the United States,” said Wall. He said Blaupunkt’s new programs are very favorable to retailers. As a consultant, he said, “I am really trying hard to do something that will benefit all of us.”
“Relaunching Blaupunkt in the United States is important to Blaupunkt’s global presence. We have the technology and the know how,” Brian Tedesco said. “Our goal is to build a high quality product that customers love and is profitable to our select dealers. I couldn’t be happier to be going into this launch with a retailer that has the history, reputation, and footprint that Freeman’s does.”
Blaupunkt developed the first car radio in the world in 1932, it said.
To contact Blaupunkt email Brian Tedesco, [email protected]
Freeman’s Car Stereo currently operates 6 retail store locations in North Carolina and 1 in South Carolina and has been in business since 1979.
1932? I was under the impression it was Motorola in the 1920s.