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

Related Content

  • BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye Team Up on fully autonomous driving
    July 4, 2016
    BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye are collaborating to bring solutions for highly and fully automated driving into series production by 2021. The BMW iNEXT model will be the foundation for BMW Group’s autonomous driving strategy and set the basis for fleets of fully autonomous vehicles, not only on highways but also in urban environments for the purpose of automated ridesharing solutions. The three partners are committed to working towards an industry standard and defining an open platform for autonomous
    Read More
  • Argus partners with Renesas to secure connected and autonomous vehicles against cyber attacks
    January 9, 2018
    Argus Cyber Security’s Connectivity Protection and Lifespan Protection solution suites have been integrated with Renesas Electronics Corporation’s R-Car H3 Computing Platform, in an agreement which aims to protect infotainment and telematics units in connected and autonomous vehicles against cyber-attacks. The Argus Connectivity Protection is designed with the intention of preventing malware installation, detecting operating system anomalies, isolating suspicious activity and stopping attacks from
    Read More
  • When weather warnings get hyperlocal
    August 24, 2016
    David Crawford looks at new technologies to cope with the age-old problem of driving in bad weather. On the 10-year average, between 2005 and 2014 bad weather contributed to more than 1.5 million vehicle crashes in the US each year, resulting in more than 800,000 injuries and 7,400 deaths. These were the findings of analysis by Booz Allen Hamilton of NHTSA data which concluded that the loss of life, hospital treatment and damage to assets costs an annual average of $42bn.
    Read More
  • Adopting universal technology platforms for tolling
    July 16, 2012
    Dave Marples of Technolution argues that the continuing development of tolling-specific onboard equipment is leading us up a blind alley. We should, he says, be looking to realise universal platforms with universal application. The near-future automobile contains information systems of a sophistication to rival a jet airliner of only a few years ago, yet is 'piloted' by a considerably less well-trained individual of highly variable mental and physical capacity, and operated in a hostile, unpredictable and p
    Read More

Highlighted Content