Alpine Launches Alpine Park on Roblox to Connect with Next-Generation of Audio Enthusiasts

AUBURN HILLS, MI (05.09.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) today launched “Alpine Park” on Roblox, a mass multiplayer platform with over 200 million active users each month. This virtual experience, designed in collaboration with Trigger XR and Stage3 Agency, expands the Alpine brand presence and reaches a younger audience of audio enthusiasts. 

“The Alpine Park on Roblox represents the future of the Alpine brand and a new way to experience Alpine products and services,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America. “Using this immersive gaming and social platform, we’re able to showcase iconic Alpine imagery and products that long-time Alpine fans will recognize, while at the same time, incorporating new and exciting experiences that will engage a younger fan.” 

With Alpine’s entrance into this virtual world, the younger generation, who statistically would not experience the brand until an older age, can now experience Alpine in an exciting and approachable format that’s tailored to their interests. Users can play games, purchase in-game gear inspired by the current Alpine product line and interact with Alpine products in an immersive environment designed for music, outdoor, and adventure enthusiasts – in other words, “Alpine fans.” 

Bridging the Gap through Gameplay

Roblox was identified as the target platform for this virtual Alpine Park experience for its gaming and interactive feature offerings in addition to its vast user base of Generation Alpha (ages 13+) and Generation Z (ages 16 – 25).

The park includes a gameplay experience where users can collect iconic chiclets and music gems to purchase in-game items from the Alpine store (located in various areas of the park). The in-game items, like an Alpine Subwoofer jetpack and a Green Chiclet Tee Shirt, are modeled after real Alpine products to bridge the gap between virtual and reality. 

Outside of the gameplay, Alpine Park features a “playground” area staged with real products from the Alpine lineup scaled to larger-than-life sizes as a unique way for users to interact with and learn about Alpine product offerings. The park also features a “showroom” floor that’s modeled after an Alpine Experience Event, where users can experience virtual models of real Alpine demo vehicles, like “Hellbender,” the 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport with a tee shirt cannon, “Switchback,” the 2019 Jeep Gladiator with a mechanized truck bed with 40 oscillating Bluetooth speakers, and the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado with the Legendary Alpine R-Series sound system. Outside of the demo vehicle placement, Alpine plans to utilize the showroom floor to reveal upcoming products and services to its user base, connecting virtual users to actual Alpine products and initiatives outside of the game.

Future updates to the Alpine Park experience include AI (artificial intelligence) Personas modeled after Alpine Brand Specialists and Jeep Enthusiasts as NPC (non-playable characters). These characters are powered by Inworld AI, a developer platform for AI characters. The integration allows users to chat with the AI characters about Alpine’s technology and fandom, using custom knowledge bases and distinct personalities designed to align with the Alpine brand. This technology would position Alpine as the first commercialized brand to launch this feature on Roblox.  

Roblox can be accessed online on a computer or PC, a smartphone via Google Play or the App Store, an Xbox gaming system, or a VR headset. Alpine Park can be found by searching “Alpine Park” on the Roblox platform or at https://www.roblox.com/games/12956278832/Alpine-Park.

Alpine to Attend the Annual Jeep Beach Vendor Show

AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.26.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”), will attend the 2023 Jeep Beach Vendor Show at the Daytona International Speedway in booth 402 from Friday, April 28 to Saturday, April 29 where they will have vehicle-specific products designed uniquely for the Jeep® driver.

Two Alpine 2018 Jeep® Wrangler demo vehicles will be on-site, featuring the i509-WRA-JL, a 9-inch Weather-Resistant Digital Media Receiver with Hi-Res Audio Playback. The unit was intentionally designed with the Jeep® driver in mind to visually emulate the design identity of the Jeep®interior and retain the features Jeep® drivers use the most. Other features, like wireless and wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, Hi-Resolution Playback (96kHz/ 24Bit), and one of the industry-first SiriusXM-Ready® head units enhanced with 360L and Hi-Res music streaming with TIDAL, make this the ultimate upgrade for the Jeep® driver.

A premium Dash Camera DVR-C320R with built-in drive assist and impact recording will also be installed to showcase the head unit pairing capabilities of the i509-WRA-JL. An Alpine PSS-24WRA sound system, with front 6.5” component speakers, 6.5” rear custom soundbar replacement speakers, 8” compact powered subwoofer, and 4-channel amplifier will be featured for in-vehicle sound upgrade demonstrations as well as an Alpine Weather-Resistant PSS-SX01 Sound System mounted to the roll bars to demonstrate exterior sound upgrade opportunities.

Alpine’s 2015 Jeep® Wrangler will also be on-site with similar Jeep® specific solutions designed for older Jeep® Wranglers, including the i509-WRA-JK, DVR-C320R, PSS-22WRA Weather-Resistant Sound System, PSS-SX01, and HCE-TCAM1-WRA Spare Tire Rear-View Camera and Light System.

Two Alpine-customized Jeeps will also be onsite to demonstrate the music-loving active weekender lifestyle of the Jeep® driver. “Hellbender,” Alpine’s 2017 Jeep® Wrangler, features a tee shirt cannon and custom-built motorized sled that pulls out from the rear of the vehicle to reveal two custom black Alpine I.C.E. Coolers.

An airconditioned Alpine Event Trailer will be parked on-site at the booth for visitors who want to chat with Alpine event staff and experience the latest vehicle-specific technology.

All Alpine products are available for purchase during the event with special, event-only pricing and free giveaways. Alpine staff and Alpine Authorized Retailer Soundwaves will be on-site to give vehicle demonstrations, answer product questions, and offer on-site installation so customers can drive home with their Alpine purchase installed in their Jeep®

Visit alpine-usa.com and jeepbeach.com for more.

Alpine to Attend the Annual Jeep Beach Vendor Show

AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.26.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”), will attend the 2023 Jeep Beach Vendor Show at the Daytona International Speedway in booth 402 from Friday, April 28 to Saturday, April 29 where they will have vehicle-specific products designed uniquely for the Jeep® driver.

Two Alpine 2018 Jeep® Wrangler demo vehicles will be on-site, featuring the i509-WRA-JL, a 9-inch Weather-Resistant Digital Media Receiver with Hi-Res Audio Playback. The unit was intentionally designed with the Jeep® driver in mind to visually emulate the design identity of the Jeep®interior and retain the features Jeep® drivers use the most. Other features, like wireless and wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, Hi-Resolution Playback (96kHz/ 24Bit), and one of the industry-first SiriusXM-Ready® head units enhanced with 360L and Hi-Res music streaming with TIDAL, make this the ultimate upgrade for the Jeep® driver.

A premium Dash Camera DVR-C320R with built-in drive assist and impact recording will also be installed to showcase the head unit pairing capabilities of the i509-WRA-JL. An Alpine PSS-24WRA sound system, with front 6.5” component speakers, 6.5” rear custom soundbar replacement speakers, 8” compact powered subwoofer, and 4-channel amplifier will be featured for in-vehicle sound upgrade demonstrations as well as an Alpine Weather-Resistant PSS-SX01 Sound System mounted to the roll bars to demonstrate exterior sound upgrade opportunities.

Alpine’s 2015 Jeep® Wrangler will also be on-site with similar Jeep® specific solutions designed for older Jeep® Wranglers, including the i509-WRA-JK, DVR-C320R, PSS-22WRA Weather-Resistant Sound System, PSS-SX01, and HCE-TCAM1-WRA Spare Tire Rear-View Camera and Light System.

Two Alpine-customized Jeeps will also be onsite to demonstrate the music-loving active weekender lifestyle of the Jeep® driver. “Hellbender,” Alpine’s 2017 Jeep® Wrangler, features a tee shirt cannon and custom-built motorized sled that pulls out from the rear of the vehicle to reveal two custom black Alpine I.C.E. Coolers.

An airconditioned Alpine Event Trailer will be parked on-site at the booth for visitors who want to chat with Alpine event staff and experience the latest vehicle-specific technology.

All Alpine products are available for purchase during the event with special, event-only pricing and free giveaways. Alpine staff and Alpine Authorized Retailer Soudwaves will be on-site to give vehicle demonstrations, answer product questions, and offer on-site installation so customers can drive home with their Alpine purchase installed in their Jeep®

Visit alpine-usa.com and jeepbeach.com for more.

Alpine Launches TikTok Account to Reach the Next Generation of Audio Enthusiasts

AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.21.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) today launched the TikTok account “@alpinesound” to reach a younger demographic of audio enthusiasts and further expand the Alpine brand.

“It’s no secret that the average age of the aftermarket car audio customer is increasing. That’s why social media platforms like TikTok are key in reaching a younger demographic,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America. “Alpine’s TikTok will be instrumental in introducing the brand to a younger audience who might be unfamiliar with aftermarket car audio.”

TikTok has seen rapid growth since its initial launch in 2016 and now boasts one billion active monthly users globally (150 million in the United States). With 80% of users between the ages of 16 – 34, more commonly referred to as Generation Z and Millennials, TikTok is quickly becoming a key social media platform to engage with the next generation.

While Alpine intends to promote products, demo vehicles, events, and traditional business activities using the entertaining, short-form video format made popular by the platform, the strategy behind the Alpine TikTok account is to engage with the younger audio enthusiast and identify new business opportunities that meet their unique interests.

New Ways of Marketing
Featuring short and long-form video content designed to be everything from entertaining to educational, TikTok is a powerful marketing tool when increasing brand awareness. The main use case of the platform is to share and engage with video content that connects an entire audience through music, dance, trends, brands, experiences, and more. This fast-paced and often reactive form of engagement has yielded success for companies when testing marketing messaging, brand campaigns, and increasing product awareness.

However, beyond its social use case, studies have shown that TikTok is quickly becoming the preferred search engine for younger users, and with advertising capabilities that link to a website, app, and future plans of an in-app checkout system, brands and retailers can assume that TikTok will become a platform where a large majority of the purchase decisions are made. Studies have also shown that 37% of users who discovered a product on TikTok ended up purchasing the product, giving a whole new value to the trend “TikTok made me buy it.”

Joining the TikTok platform allows long-time and new Alpine fans to engage with the brand, learn about local and national events, and see products in action in a casual, entertaining format. Down the road, Alpine intends to leverage its TikTok account to introduce new products and campaigns that are geared toward the platform’s younger audience in hopes of inspiring the new generation of audio enthusiasts to become Alpine fans.

TikTok users can find Alpine by searching the username “@alpinesound” or at www.tiktok.com/@alpinesound.

Alps Alpine Welcomes Mike Kenhard as Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Engineering

AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.13.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. welcomes Mike Kenhard as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Vice President of Engineering at the headquarters location in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Mike Kenhard, Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Engineering

Kenhard brings an extensive background in the automotive industry as well as a proven history of leading various teams through key company projects and initiatives. Throughout his career, Kenhard has championed growth and success both on a divisional and company-wide basis, using his skills as an effective communicator, manager, and strategic planner to promote positive change and desired company results.

“We are ecstatic that Mike has joined the Alps Alpine team,” said Robert Hill, President & CEO of Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “His technical expertise, experience, and drive will ensure that we continue to provide winning solutions to our customers and lead our expansion into new areas in our pursuit of Perfecting the Art of Electronics.”

Kenhard will oversee all engineering at Alps Alpine North America.

Visit alpine-usa.com for more.

​Alpine Hosted a Dealer Training in the Houston, TX

HOUSTON, TX (03.30.23) – Wednesday, March 22nd, was the date of the latest Alpine Training for Houston TX area dealers. The location was Pappas BBQ in Houston, TX. Alpine invited both Direct Alpine Dealers & Tri-State Enterprises Alpine Dealers to the event.

When dealers arrived at Pappa’s BBQ for the Alpine training they were directed upstairs to the private Party Room.

The training was conducted by Alpine’s Texas based Brand Specialist, Dan Greenwood. Dan also brought the Alpine Toyota Tundra Demo Truck equipped with a completely new system for 2023, featuring Status Series Hi-Res Amps, Speakers, DSP & Head Unit.

The newest addition to the Tundra system is Alpine’s brand-new R Series Shallow Subwoofer Enclosures, which feature the new RS series shallow subwoofers. Dealers were able to come away with valuable information about many new products that Alpine is shipping NOW for 2023!

Dan Greenwood, Alpine’s Texas-based Brand Specialist, set to get the Alpine training meeting started.
Lucky Alpine Turn 1 Bluetooth Speaker winners flank Dan Greenwood. Eli Larios from Xochilt Car Audio and Lucas Buluc from Stereo Max are both with Houston-based 12volt retailers.

There was a lot of excitement about the new product – especially the new RS Shallow woofers. Jake Jesty, from Sound Evolution in Houston, said “These are the best sounding shallow woofers on the market. They sound just like a standard woofer…but with less than 3.5” of depth needed!”

In addition to tasty hot BBQ from Pappa’s, Alpine also gave away Turn 1 Bluetooth Speakers to two lucky attendees. The winners were Eli Larios from Xochilt Car Audio and Lucas Bulux from Stereo Max. Both stores are located in Houston, TX.

Andy Allen, Alpine Brand Representative in the South Texas, contributed this coverage of the Alpine Houston training.

Visit alpine-usa.com for more

Alpine Released Free Software Update with SiriusXM’s Latest Generation 360L Platform

AUBURN HILLS, MI (03.28.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) today released the free software update that includes SiriusXM-Ready with 360L on compatible head units, including the Alpine Halo11 iLX-F511, the Alpine Halo9 iLX-F509, the iLX-507, and Jeep-specific head units i509-WRA-JL and i509-WRA-JK. Alpine is the first aftermarket car audio company to offer SiriusXM-Ready head units enhanced with the satellite and streaming capabilities of 360L – SiriusXM’s most advanced audio entertainment platform.

SiriusXM with 360L combines satellite and streaming content delivery into a single, cohesive in-vehicle entertainment experience, providing more choice and a more customizable listening experience. SiriusXM with 360L delivers more SiriusXM channels (350+), SiriusXM’s Pandora Stations, “For You” recommendations, recorded on demand content and podcasts, and more. SiriusXM with 360L in Alpine’s head units will also feature individual SiriusXM listener profiles to allow multiple drivers and passengers to customize and maintain their own SiriusXM favorites and personalized recommendations, as well as voice search functionality.*

SiriusXM offers promotions for Alpine head unit owners that purchase and activate the SXV300 Tuner. Visit siriusxm.com/activatenow for offer details.

Subscribers can also listen to SiriusXM outside their vehicles on the SXM App, available on the App Store or Google Play, and on connected devices and speakers in their homes.

The free software update that includes SiriusXM-Ready with 360L is available now and can be found on the Alpine Knowledge Center (https://kb.alpine-usa.com). SiriusXM-Ready with 360L is available on compatible Alpine head units and requires the SXV300 Tuner and subscription (sold separately).

*Some 360L content and features require a Wi-Fi connection with internet access. Data rates may apply.

Alpine Now Shipping Next-Generation R-Series 4-Channel Amp

AUBURN HILLS, MI (03.21.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) is now shipping the Next-Generation R-Series R2-A60F 4-Channel Amplifier. The R2-A60F is the first amplifier to ship from the Next-Generation R-Series Sound System Line, following the speakers which shipped in January.

Using “trickle-down” technology from the Ultra-High-Resolution AlpineF#1Status and Alpine Status systems, the R2-A60F is Hi-Res Audio Certified and able to reproduce up to 40kHz frequency response for music that is closer to the original source. The R2-A60F features Alpine’s Class D Amplifier Circuit and provides 100W x 4 @ 4Ω or 150W x 4 @ 2Ω.

In addition to the High-Resolution capabilities of the Next-Generation amplifier model, design changes were made to improve installation. A 15% reduced footprint increases fitment options in most vehicle applications yet still maintains the “Loud and Fun” performance quality that long-time R-Series fans have come to enjoy. Speaker connections were consolidated to one side of the amplifier for easy access. Amplifier controls, like gain and crossover controls, were relocated to the top of the amplifier under a removable plate for convenient access. Mounting “feet” were also integrated into the chassis of the amplifier to simplify the installation process.

The R2-A60F is Remote Bass Knob Compatible and works with the RUX-KNOB.2 or RUX-H01 (sold separately).

The R2-A60F is available now for $449.95 and can be purchased at Alpine Authorized retailers and Preferred Online Stores. Please check the store locator on www.alpine-usa.com for details.

Alpine to Attend the 2023 Master Tech Expo in Mesa, AZ

AUBURN HILLS, MI (02.28.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) will attend the upcoming 2023 Master Tech Expo hosted in the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Arizona from Sunday, March 5 to Wednesday, March 8. This is Alpine’s first time attending the event as an exhibitor.

“Alpine is excited to attend the 2023 Master Tech Expo and connect with those in our industry who are committed to furthering their education and mastering their craft,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “We’re looking forward to showcasing our 2023 Product Line and providing valuable education and training to support our Alpine Authorized Dealers.”

Alpine will be in exhibit #402 where staff will demo new event displays with High-Resolution sound and display audio family systems from the 2023 Alpine Product Line, including the High-Resolution Alpine Status line, High-Resolution head unit line, and the new Alpine Optim8™ 8-Channel Hi-Res Sound Processor and Amplifier with Automatic Sound Tuning.

Featuring the Ultra High-Resolution AlpineF#1Status system, a Tesla Model S demo vehicle will also be available in the Alpine booth so attendees can experience the first premium car audio system that can achieve 384kHz/32bit High-Resolution Audio Playback, the highest recording spec possible in a car audio system.

Alpine will host a training session during Master Tech that will focus on the 2023 Product Line:

Tuesday, March 7 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. in Superstition South
2023 Alpine Product Line and a New Faster Way to Tune with Optim8 DSP
Learn about the next generation of High-Resolution sound, display audio family, and the new Alpine “Optim8” automatic sound tuner and processor.

All Master Tech attendees are welcome to visit the Alpine booth, join the training sessions, and meet with Alpine staff from the sales, marketing, and product planning teams. Attendees are encouraged to visit https://www.mastertechexpo.com/ and use the “Workshops” link to register for the Alpine training sessions.

Visit mastertechexpo.com and alpine-usa.com for more.

Alpine Welcomes DOW Technologies as an Authorized Dealer Fulfillment Center for the Mid-Atlantic

AUBURN HILLS, MI (02.21.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) welcomes DOW Technologies as a new Authorized Dealer Fulfillment Center in Alpine’s Mid-Atlantic markets (east Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, southern Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.).

As a current fulfilment center in Alpine’s Florida and southeast markets, DOW Technologies will now expand to cover the Mid-Atlantic markets.Alpine will be the primary aftermarket car audio brand in the DOW Technologies warehouse, located in Montgomeryville, PA.

“We’re excited to partner with DOW Technologies as an Authorized Dealer Fulfillment Center for our Mid-Atlantic Alpine Authorized Dealers,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America. “We believe DOW Technologies’ location, infrastructure, and service will continue to contribute great success to our dealers’ business.”

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., DOW Technologies is one of the largest independently owned and operated technology distributors servicing independent retailers in the United States for 64 years. With seven locations serving Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., DOW Technologies focuses on distributing products and technologies that enhance lives at home, at work and on the road.

“DOW Technologies is extremely excited to be the Authorized Dealer Fulfillment Center partner for Alpine in the Mid-Atlantic, and we are focused on continued growth of the brand through the dedicated, loyal Alpine dealer base,” said Dave Elkin, SVP Sales and Product Management, DOW Technologies.

Details of the partnership were communicated directly to Alpine Authorized Dealers in the territory.

Visit alpine-usa.com for more.