Germany’s big three luxury marques – Audi AG, the BMW Group, and Daimler AG – have agreed with Nokia Corporation to acquire Here, the Finnish company’s satellite mapping and location business arm.
In a joint statement issued by all three companies, the acquisition is described as being ‘intended to secure the long term availability of Here’s products and services as an open, independent and value creating platform for cloud-based maps and other mobility services accessible to all customers’.
Subject to approval by European authorities, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016. Under terms agreed upon by the three companies, each will hold an equal stake in the partnership with none seeking to acquire a majority interest.
Increased availability of the technology has made satellite navigation increasingly popular among present day road users, but beyond helping to guide motorists to their destinations, satellite navigation will have a crucial role to play in the future of autonomous driving, where the ultra-precise digital maps are needed for use in combination with real-time data from each vehicle’s network of sensors to contribute to a swarm intelligence accessible to all vehicles navigating in the vicinity.
“High-precision digital maps are a crucial component of the mobility of the future. With the joint acquisition of Here, we want to secure the independence of this central service for all vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and customers in other industries,” stated Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG.
Regular users of the navigation app Waze will be the first to recognize the benefits of swarm intelligence in which various hazards and traffic conditions can be made known to all nearby drivers. In a further development, the data could be used to learn about critical bends on the road, in order to warn drivers in good time or to activate assistance systems. The system can go as far as tying in with traffic light computers and navigate drivers in the direction of green lights to minimize unwanted stoppages that waste both time and fuel.
Currently, Here provides mapping and location intelligence for nearly 200 countries in more than 50 languages and is one of the main providers of mapping and location services. The company will continue to operate independently with no interference from its three owners.
Keyword: Audi, BMW, Daimler jointly acquire Nokia GPS mapping business