Netherlands-based location data and technology platform HERE Technologies and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced a decade-long collaboration to transform the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and advance automotive innovation.
The partnership, valued at $1 billion, will leverage AWS’s cloud infrastructure to power HERE’s AI-driven mapping solutions, enabling automakers and mobility companies to enhance electric, automated, and connected vehicle technologies, as announced by the company on Monday.
Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, and Mike Nefkens, CEO of HERE, also took the initiative to make this announcement on LinkedIn at the CES 2025 event.
SceneXtract Tool for Better ADAS
Under the agreement, HERE will integrate AWS’s high-performance cloud capabilities with its proprietary AI and ML models to offer automakers cutting-edge location-aware software.
These advancements are expected to accelerate the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) through HERE’s new SceneXtract tool, automated driving features, and dynamic in-vehicle digital experiences.
This tool combines HERE’s HD Live Map data with AWS’s generative AI services. It enables automakers to quickly create simulation-ready environments, drastically reducing the time and costs associated with testing.
HERE’s New AI Assistant
Along with the partnership, HERE also unveiled its AI Assistant, a solution designed to revolutionise navigation and logistics for software-defined vehicles and transportation companies.
By leveraging multiple GenAI LLMs, the AI assistant delivers location-aware guidance and natural language-driven insights. The assistant enhances personalised travel planning, enabling users to receive tailored route suggestions based on driving habits, real-time conditions, and specific preferences.
Key features include complex travel planning, intelligent electric vehicle (EV) routing, and improved vehicle safety through precise map data integration. For instance, EV users can easily locate charging stations with specific amenities, while advanced safety systems provide real-time alerts on speed limits and hazardous conditions.
The solution, set for integration into HERE Navigation and the HERE SDK, will also be available in the HERE WeGo Pro mobile app for logistics companies by 2025. The app aims to optimise fleet management with natural language controls and ensure safety and efficiency on the road.
Hyper-Accurate Vehicle Navigation
Detailed and live location information is becoming essential for ADAS and automated driving, which ensures vehicles know their exact position in real time.
This precision allows cars not only to react to their surroundings but also to anticipate and adapt, smoothing onboard decision-making and optimising routes, even for multi-stop EV charging.
“Location technology is at the heart of the automotive industry’s software-defined vehicle revolution. This partnership enables our customers to leverage our state-of-the-art location technology for faster software development and real-time data analytics throughout the entire SDV lifecycle,” Nefkens said.
HERE’s live mapping solutions aim to improve navigation, EV efficiency, and route optimisation. The new tools promise to reduce software development time, enabling faster deployment of innovations while addressing complex data processing requirements.
They also empower developers with advanced location-based tools and geospatial data capabilities. These include dynamic and static maps, route planning, place search, geocoding, and device tracking, enabling businesses to enhance navigation, asset monitoring, and operational efficiency.
Transforming Logistics with AI-Driven Solutions
The companies also formed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) beyond the automotive industry, which introduced innovative transportation and logistics solutions.
Built on HERE’s location intelligence and AWS’s cloud infrastructure, these tools optimise supply chains, enhance real-time asset tracking and shipment visibility, and support sustainable delivery goals for enterprises and independent software vendors.
The collaboration solidifies HERE’s role as a key player in location intelligence and provides tools for developers to create essential geospatial services and reimagine mobility solutions.
In 2020, HERE Technologies also partnered with Deduce Technologies to enhance real-time traffic solutions in India by integrating Deduce’s extensive GPS probe data from commercial vehicle fleets.
Last month, General Motors (GM) abandoned its robotaxi business to focus on personal autonomous vehicles. This restructuring aimed to cut annual spending by over $1 billion, with completion targeted for the first half of 2025.
In the last year, AWS partnered with HCLTech to help enterprises explore GenAI use cases, PoC, and solutions, as well as Anthropic, by becoming its primary cloud partner with a $4 billion investment.
Following partnerships and developments in the AI and cloud services sectors, Pinecone, a leading knowledge platform for building accurate and scalable AI applications, announced the integration of industry-first inference capabilities into its vector database, raising a total of $138 million in funding.
