Inrix acquires OpenCar to challenge Apple and Google in the car

Inrix has completed the acquisition of OpenCar, a US-based automotive software and services provider, in a purchase which enables Inrix to extend its cloud platform into the dashboard with a broad portfolio of third-party content and applications in a customisable automaker-controlled user experience. OpenCar, backed for the last five years by a strategic partnership with Mazda Motor Corporation, offers a white label, standards-based application development environment and framework, fully controlled by
March 10, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
163 Inrix has completed the acquisition of OpenCar, a US-based automotive software and services provider, in a purchase which enables Inrix to extend its cloud platform into the dashboard with a broad portfolio of third-party content and applications in a customisable automaker-controlled user experience.

OpenCar, backed for the last five years by a strategic partnership with Mazda Motor Corporation, offers a white label, standards-based application development environment and framework, fully controlled by the automaker and enables brand-, model- and region-specific touch and voice interfaces across the entire infotainment service.

This capability allows OEMs to enhance their brand and satisfy consumer demand through a variety of in-car information, media and location-based applications. While OpenCar is designed to understand the data generated by advanced vehicle systems, control of how it is used, shared and stored remains in the hands of the automaker.

“Today, over half of the connected vehicles in the world use INRIX services. By 2020, more than a quarter billion connected cars will be on the road,” said Bryan Mistele, president and CEO of INRIX. “With the OpenCar acquisition, INRIX is in the driver’s seat to provide those connected services and expand into the digital dashboard with unique, easy-to-use applications designed especially for next-gen automotive experiences.”

“We’re excited to see additional competition in this important connected car segment,” said Marcus Keith, head of Audi connect and HMI development at Audi. “The combination of Inrix and OpenCar should be very compelling for bringing new applications.”

“OpenCar enables automakers to create an end-to-end ecosystem for in-car applications that make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to be behind the wheel,” said Jeff Payne, CEO of OpenCar. “Inrix gives us the opportunity to grow the footprint of our app platform much faster, both geographically and with more OEMs.”
Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Connected vehicle technology the solution to safety?
    January 25, 2012
    A series of 'driver clinics' is under way across five states, as vehicle manufacturers and the US Government pin their hopes on connected vehicles becoming the next big advance in road safety. Pete Goldin reports. What would a car say if it could talk? Its first words might be: "Here I am". Many vehicles are communicating that very message to each other right now. Admittedly, this is in controlled environments of US Department of Transportation (USDoT) tests, but within the next few years 'connected vehicle
    Read More
  • China's RFID market value forecast to reach US$4.3 billion by 2025
    May 26, 2015
    According to a new report by IDTechEx, RFID in China 2015-2025, not only will the use of RFID in China become a US$4.3 billion market in 2025, but that figure will almost double if the value of tags and readers made in the country and exported elsewhere is included. Already in 2015 China had 85 per cent of the global manufacture capacity of RFID tags, with over 150 RFID companies operating in the country.
    Read More
  • Keeping cyber criminals from your website
    November 10, 2017
    If a hacker can penetrate your website, they can do business as you. Joe Dysart explains how you and your customers may not discover the fraud for some time. In the latest twist on identity theft, hackers are clandestinely taking over business websites - and then brazenly billing visiting customers as if the sites are their own.
    Read More
  • New ticket purchase methods expected to drive advance of US public transit
    April 2, 2015
    New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Strategic Analysis of the US Automated Fare Collection Market in Rail and Urban Transit Systems, finds that the market earned revenues of US$324.5 million in 2014 and estimates this to reach US$634.8 million by 2021. The rising cost of fare management, coupled with the increasing presence of computing, sensors and connected devices, have made public transit systems more accessible to end users, thus boosting interest in automated fare collection (AFC) systems. With 33
    Read More

Highlighted Content