HERE Maps

HERE Maps
Name	HERE Technologies
Type	Private
Industry	Location-based services
Founded	1985 (as Navteq)
Headquarters	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Area served	Global
Key people	Edzard Overbeek, Jochen Kuenssberg
Products	Mapping, geocoding, routing, traffic, SDKs

HERE Maps HERE Maps is a commercial location platform providing mapping, navigation, traffic and location services for automotive, enterprise and consumer markets. Originally formed through the acquisition and consolidation of digital mapping assets from Navteq and other European digital cartography efforts, the company evolved into a major provider alongside Google Maps, TomTom, and Apple Maps. Its services power in-car navigation systems for manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and supply enterprise clients including Amazon (company), Uber Technologies, and Microsoft.

History

The company's roots trace to Navteq and to cartographic efforts in Europe, with milestones including the 2007 acquisition of Navteq by Nokia and the 2015 sale to a consortium led by Audi, BMW, and Daimler AG. Strategic moves involved partnerships and acquisitions with firms like Bookmap and collaborations with technology providers such as Intel Corporation and SAP SE. Major events include the branding transition from Nokia to a standalone identity and subsequent investment rounds involving stakeholders including Amazon (company), Intel Corporation, and SoftBank Group. Over time the firm shifted focus toward automated driving support, fleet management, and cloud-based location services used by clients like Facebook and Oracle Corporation.

Products and Services

The product portfolio spans consumer navigation, enterprise location services, and automotive-grade mapping. Key offerings include map tiles and vector maps used by platforms such as Android (operating system), real-time traffic data consumed by fleets managed with SAP SE tools, and SDKs for developers integrating geocoding and routing into apps built for iOS and Android (operating system). Automotive customers receive lane-level guidance and HD map subscriptions similar to those used in development projects with Bosch and Continental AG. The platform also delivers geofencing, place search tied to databases like Foursquare, and location analytics used by retailers such as Walmart and logistics firms like DHL.

Technology and Data Sources

Mapping technology combines satellite imagery from providers like Maxar Technologies and aerial surveys coordinated with national mapping agencies such as Ordnance Survey and Kadaster. Street-level imagery is collected via vehicle fleets and partners including Microsoft (historically) and regional imagery companies. The stack uses spatial databases, machine learning models for map conflation and road detection, and routing algorithms influenced by research from institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, and Stanford University. Sensor data for traffic and incident detection aggregates anonymized probe data from smartphone platforms such as Android (operating system) and vehicle telemetry supplied by automakers including Volvo and Toyota Motor Corporation.

Platforms and Integrations

The platform exposes REST APIs, SDKs, and cloud services compatible with major cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. Integrations exist with automotive infotainment systems developed by suppliers like Harman International and Magna International, as well as telematics platforms from TomTom competitors and partners like HERE Technologies clients in autonomous driving stacks. Additionally, enterprise integrations support business intelligence tools from Tableau and Qlik, and transport planning suites produced by Esri-using organizations.

Business Model and Partnerships

Revenue streams include licensing fees for map data, subscription services for automotive clients, and usage-based billing for cloud APIs consumed by enterprises such as Uber Technologies and Amazon (company). Strategic partnerships span manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes-Benz), technology firms (Intel Corporation, Microsoft), and logistics providers (FedEx). The company pursued joint ventures with automotive alliances and engaged in data-sharing agreements with municipalities and regional transportation authorities like Transport for London and city governments including New York City.

Privacy and Legal Issues

Privacy considerations center on collection and processing of location traces from vehicles and mobile devices, triggering regulatory scrutiny under frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation in European Union jurisdictions. Legal challenges have involved disputes over intellectual property, licensing terms with competitors such as TomTom, and compliance matters in markets including United States and China. The company implemented anonymization, differential privacy techniques developed in academic settings such as University of California, Berkeley and governance frameworks aligned with standards from organizations like the International Organization for Standardization to address data protection concerns.

Category:Digital maps Category:Location-based service companies