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

  • Transport management systems market ‘offers opportunities for emerging players’
    May 23, 2017
    Dominance in the global transportation management systems (TMS) market lies with a few companies, despite which the market exhibits considerable opportunities for emerging players, according to a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Currently, companies such as SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Descartes Systems Group, JDA Software Group, and Manhattan Association hold dominance in the global transportation management system market, says the study. The report also identifies companies such as BluJa
    Read More
  • Infrastructure and the autonomous vehicle
    December 12, 2014
    Harold Worrall ponders the effect of autonomous vehicles on transportation infrastructure. For the last century the transportation industry has been focused on the supply of infrastructure to support the ever growing fleet of vehicles and the greater number of miles covered by each vehicle. Our focus has been planning, funding, designing, building and maintaining roadways. Politicians, engineers, planners, financial managers … all of us have had this focus. We have experienced demand growth since the first
    Read More
  • Ford and Toyota announce hybrid and telematics collaboration
    April 18, 2012
    Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced they will equally collaborate on the development of an advanced new hybrid system for light truck and SUV customers. The two companies also agreed to work together on enablers to complement each company's existing telematics platform standards, helping bring more Internet-based services and useful information to consumers globally.
    Read More
  • Transport in the round
    October 13, 2015
    The ITF’s Mary Crass tells Colin Sowman why future transport demands will require governments to overcome the silo effect of individual single-modal authorities. The only global multimodal transport policy organisation,” is how Mary Crass describes the International Transport Forum (ITF), which is housed at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As head of policy and summit preparation at the ITF she says: “All other organisations are either regional or have a modal focus, we cove
    Read More

Highlighted Content