Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have struck a deal with Nokia to acquire its mapping and location services business Here for £1.9 billion.

The acquisition is 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 from the automotive industry and other sectors.

The three partners will each hold an equal stake in Here, but it has been agreed that none of them will seek to acquire a majority interest.

Subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016.

“High-precision digital maps are a crucial component of the mobility of the future,” said Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG.

“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.” 

Here is laying the foundations for the next generation of mobility and location based services.

For the automotive industry this is the basis for new assistance systems and ultimately fully autonomous driving.

Extremely precise digital maps will be used in combination with real-time vehicle data in order to increase road safety and to facilitate innovative new products and services.

On the basis of the shared raw data, all automobile manufacturers can offer their customers differentiated and brand-specific services.

“Our environment is constantly changing. That’s why the information in digital maps has to be continually updated so that maximum utility can be offered,” said Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of management of Audi AG.

“The high-precision cameras and sensors installed in modern cars are the digital eyes for updating mobility data and maps; in this way, information such as speed limits or critical driving situations are already recognized today.”

All data gained will be processed in compliance with strict data-protection rules.

Harald Krüger, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, said: “Here will play a key role in the digital revolution of mobility, combining high definition maps and data from vehicles to make travel safer and easier for everyone. This knowledge will be to the benefit of all carmakers and their customers.”

High-precision maps are important for autonomous driving and many other forms of assistance systems, as these technologies require an up-to-date plan of a vehicle’s surroundings exact to the nearest centimetre, in order to react in real time.

While Here already produces extremely precise static maps, they can be verified more exactly and continually updated with a constant flow of data from vehicles’ surroundings.

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 develop its position as a strong and independent provider of maps and location-based services, will expand its product offering and continue to make it available to all customers across industries.

The management of Here will continue to be independent – with the goal of moving the Here business case forward as a platform, open to all customers. The consortium says it will not interfere into operational business.

            

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