Pioneer⁠ wants to be more than your car stereo company with new chargers, cables, and phone mounts

For years, drivers have known Pioneer Corporation for aftermarket stereos, speakers, and head units. Now, the company wants to become part of nearly every interaction you have inside your vehicle.

Pioneer has announced its first lineup of automotive accessories, marking an expansion beyond car audio and into the world of smartphone mounts, charging hardware, and USB cables. While plenty of companies already compete in those categories, Pioneer believes its experience building products for cars gives it an advantage over generic accessories designed primarily for use at home or in the office.

Pioneer c

According to the company, the new products are built to survive the realities of life inside a vehicle, including extreme heat, freezing temperatures, constant vibrations, and the general abuse that comes with daily commuting.

“For over 80 years, Pioneer has been at the forefront of in-vehicle technology, from the world’s first car CD player to today’s most advanced in-dash receivers,” said Larry Rougas. “This collection is the next step in that journey. As we expand our presence across the full vehicle experience, we are bringing the same precision and engineering discipline that defines our audio products to a category that drivers rely on every day.”

Pioneer d

The most interesting products in the new lineup are arguably the magnetic smartphone cradles. Buyers can choose from a basic magnetic mount, a Qi2 wireless charging version, or a premium model that adds an integrated cooling fan and customizable RGB lighting. All three include a magnetic mounting system, support phones that lack built-in magnetic compatibility through an included ring, and attach to air vents to help keep dashboards uncluttered.

Pioneer is also entering the crowded car charger market with two dual-port models. The smaller charger delivers up to 38W of total output and can charge two devices simultaneously using USB-C and USB-A ports. The more powerful option pushes total output to 63W and includes enough USB-C Power Delivery capacity to handle laptops and tablets in addition to smartphones.

Pioneer b

The company’s cable lineup consists of both standard silicone cables and premium illuminated braided models. Importantly for many drivers, the cables support wired CarPlay and Android Auto connections while also handling fast charging duties.

Pricing starts at $19.99 for cables, while chargers begin at $25.99. Smartphone cradles start at $29.99 and climb to $64.99 for the flagship Qi2 model with active cooling. You can buy them from Pioneer directly here.

The move makes sense. Modern vehicles have become rolling technology hubs, and drivers are carrying more gadgets than ever before. If consumers already trust Pioneer with what comes out of their speakers, convincing them to trust the company with their chargers and phone mounts may not be such a difficult sell after all.

Support independent tech journalism

NERDS.xyz is independently owned and operated. If you enjoy my coverage of Linux, AI, hardware, cybersecurity, and tech culture, consider supporting the site on Ko-fi.

Support NERDS.xyz
Avatar of Brian Fagioli
Written by

Brian Fagioli

Technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz

Brian Fagioli is a technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz. A former BetaNews writer, he has spent over a decade covering Linux, hardware, software, cybersecurity, and AI with a no nonsense approach for real nerds.

Leave a Comment