Renault had a busy day at the Geneva Motor Show. There were seven new car launches. And this included its new Renault Clio. But much of the talking point was the inclusion of TomTom satnav system inside the car.

Available for under £500 as an option, the Carminat TomTom system is not the stick-on-the-windscreen portable TomTom system that’s so popular here – it’s fully integrated, and pops up from the dashboard. But has all the easy to use satnav features you would expect from a TomTom.

I found Giles Shrimpton to ask him more about TomTom and Renault.

Giles is the managing director of TomTom’s automotive division. And the man responsible for putting TomTom into the Renault Clio. But it won’t stop there. Giles said that the Renault Megane and Scenic would also be available with TomTom satnav. And later in the year, Toyota would also be introducing fully integrated TomTom systems.

So, was this the end of TomTom as one of Britain’s best loved portable satnav systems I asked? “No, no, not at all,” Giles responded. “We shall remain in all spaces where navigation is required. Whether it’s fixed – like it is in the new Clio – portable, or in mobile phones. We are specialists in navigation.”

Giles pointed out that one of the key benefits of having TomTom in the Renault Clio – apart from the price – was the ability to update its content easily.

“With our system you don’t have to send off for a new DVD to upgrade the system. You simply take the SD card out of its slot, take it to your computer, update the card with latest maps and safety camera locations, and then return it to the TomTom by a slot next to the screen. It’s all very simple.”

In the future, Giles said TomTom was looking to develop its satellite navigation into a travel companion, able to direct you to the cheapest fuel station if you need to refuel, for example. “We’re an innovative company. You can expect more innovations from us in the future,” promised Giles.

TomTom’s Giles Shrimpton