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

  • LG and Intel to develop and pilot 5G telematics technology
    February 26, 2016
    LG Electronics (LG) and Intel are to collaborate on the development of 5G-based telematics technology, the next generation of wireless technology for cars. The two companies will utilise research and development expertise and leadership from both companies with the aim of being first to market with 5G ready solutions. 5G telematics delivers data more than 33 times faster than 4G LTE with latency expected to drop to about one tenth of current speeds. Software can be updated at high speeds through OTA (Ove
    Read More
  • Cars reinvented: huge new opportunities and dangers, says IDTechEx
    December 2, 2016
    The new IDTechEx report, Electric Car Technology and Forecasts 2017-2027 finds that the biggest change in cars for one hundred years is now starting. It is driven by totally new requirements and capabilities. They will cause huge new businesses to appear but some giants currently making cars and their parts will spectacularly go bankrupt. Cities will ban private cars but encourage cars as autonomous taxis and rental vehicles. Already 65 per cent of cars in China are bought by businesses. The Japanese wa
    Read More
  • IP technology the route to efficient multi-agency control rooms
    February 1, 2012
    As IP-based technology makes its presence felt in the control room sector, it makes for greater economies of scale and also offers a migration path for many other traffic management technologies. So says Barco's Guy Van Wijmeersch. Efficient control room collaboration and decision-making is only possible if operators and decision-makers have easy and timely access to information. In many cases, that information also needs to be accessible to multiple users at the same time. This is certainly so in the case
    Read More
  • Sorting sensible from shiny in tolling technology
    December 11, 2014
    Instead of always striving for the latest shiny toys Kevin Hoeflich of HNTB advises a 10-steps method for selecting the most appropriate technology. Amid the hype and razzmatazz surrounding the launch of Apple’s iPhone 6, the company also announced its new mobile payment system, Apple Pay. Built into the new iPhone 6, Apple Pay works at 220,000 merchants across America and is supported by major US banks and the big three credit card companies.
    Read More

Highlighted Content