North American Auto Show 2014: Continental and HERE team up to map out the future of vehicle connectivity

DETROIT and ESPOO, Finland, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Continental, the international automotive supplier, and HERE, a leader in mapping and location services, announced that their teams will intensify their collaboration in bringing the Connected Car to life, focusing on Electronic Horizon, future Automated Driving functionalities and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

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The work, which starts now, will begin with the development of highly precise map technology for Continental's Electronic Horizon platform that will enable your vehicle to continuously determine its position on the road to within 20-10 centimeters (3-8 inches). The maps will include a range of road information, including lane markings and connectivity, speed limit changes, no passing signs and more. Using this information, all types of vehicles will be able to comfortably react to shifting circumstances, such as changing speed limits, automatically. The technology will enable enhanced anticipatory driving, leading to improvement for drivers in the areas of comfort, efficiency and safety.

Continental aims to provide a complete end-to-end connected Electronic Horizon solution based on HERE data and cloud services to vehicle manufacturers worldwide. The solution will also be the basis for Highly Automated Driving functionality that Continental targets to have in vehicles rolling off assembly lines by 2020. With more than 26 million telematics units produced worldwide, Continental is already providing the necessary systems for connected vehicles.

The collaboration between Continental and HERE not only fits the development roadmap of both Continental and HERE in the area of Automated Driving but also paves the way for the advent of Intelligent Transportation Systems. Both companies believe that there will be many phases in the evolution towards connected Intelligent Transportation Systems, of which Automated Driving is one.  

 "With precise map data from HERE and the connected Electronic Horizon, we will achieve advancements across all areas of today's vehicle-based individual mobility," explains Ralf Lenninger, Head of Interior Electronics Solutions, Continental. "With the connected Electronic Horizon, vehicle manufacturers will be able to reduce their vehicles' CO₂-footprint by at least two grams per kilometer. In addition, exact map data will make the driving experience more enjoyable and safe by providing useful information about road congestion so that drivers can predetermine alternate routes, as well as a way to adapt future LED headlight functions to the road ahead."

"Providing an accurate, precise and timely representation of the roads and the vehicle environment is essential not only for Automated Driving but for all areas of advanced driving solutions. With our superior HERE LiDAR technology, rich data analytics and ability to integrate "dynamic" events, HERE is uniquely positioned to provide the highly accurate and always-fresh 3D maps required to enable such an experience," said Ogi Redzic, Vice President, Connected Driving, HERE.

For nearly two decades Continental and HERE have jointly built navigation systems for the vehicle environment. Combining Continental's expertise in automotive electronics system integration, including hardware, software, services and cloud solutions for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) with the core competencies of HERE in the areas of automotive-grade digital mapping and location intelligence, both companies now jointly work on the future of car connectivity. 

About HERE and Nokia

HERE, a Nokia business, offers the world's freshest maps and location experiences across multiple screens and operating systems. HERE inspires a new generation of location services and devices helping more people to navigate their lives with ease and confidence. Built on more than 25 years of experience in cartography and drawing on more than 80,000 sources of data, HERE offers "Maps for Life" for more than 190 countries, voice guided navigation in 95 countries in more than 50 languages and live traffic information for 34 countries. To learn more about HERE, visit http://blog.here.com

Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. Nokia's technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world. For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com/about-nokia.

About Continental

With provisional sales of around €33.3 billion in 2013, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has more than 177,000 employees in 46 countries.

This press release is available in the following languages: German, English

Links

Online press portal:
www.continental-press.com

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Online media database:
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SOURCE Continental