Audi, BMW and Daimler set to acquire Nokia's HERE Maps

Three major automobile manufacturers, Audi AG, BMW and Daimler AG have agreed to acquire Nokia Corporation’s location and mapping service, HERE. The three partners will hold equal shares of the company with none of them looking to acquire a majority. The acquisition is intended to create a swarm intelligence platform for cloud-based maps that is accessible to customers of the automotive sector.

With HERE setting benchmarks in mobility and location services, this could be the answer to new assistance systems and possibly even autonomous driving. They aim to improve road safety by offering new products and services that combine precise digital maps and real-time vehicle data. Using shared raw data, these manufacturers can offer altered and brand-specific services to their customers.

Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Daimler AG’s board of management stated, “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.”

Swarm intelligence uses intricate technology to provide real-time information on hazardous driving conditions. For example, on slippery roads it would compute various data such ABS activations and outside temperature to detect how dangerous the situation is. This technology could also improve the fuel efficiency by anticipating stop lights in cities and optimising engine performance accordingly.

Irrespective of this acquisition, the management of HERE will continue to be independent and they intend on expanding their product offering to their customers across nearly 200 countries.