pwijsneus schreef op 17 juni 2015 21:47:
Germany auto makers ready offer for HERE as deadline looms-sourcesFRANKFURT, JUNE 17 | BY EDWARD TAYLOR
Germany's premium auto makers BMW Daimler and Audi are preparing an offer for Nokia's maps business, as binding bids are due by end of Thursday, two sources familiar with the process told Reuters.
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Finland's Nokia started an auction of its
HERE high-definition maps business while it focuses on completing its 15.6 billion euros ($17.2 billion) takeover of network equipment maker Alcatel Lucent.
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Germany's carmakers have formed a consortium
to buy the high-definition mapping division which they see as a key tool for bringing self-driving cars to the road. Autonomous and connected cars could evolve into a $50 billion market, analysts at Exane BNP Paribas have estimated.
Autonomous cars can navigate difficult routes by using data gathered from laser sensors to identify obstacles and cross-reference these with high-definition maps.
Although it remains unclear how many parties are competing, bankers say there is a rivalry between two categories of bidders: the industrials and tech companies.
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BMW and Daimler declined to comment. Audi could not immediately be reached for comment.