In connected car news are Gridline, HARMAN, JLR, Continental, AKM, Indra, Audi, Qualcomm and Hyundai.
Gridline Acquires Shell Telematics
Gridline Inc. has acquired Shell Telematics in a strategic move to enhance its leadership in the telematics sector and expand its advanced data capabilities. The acquisition enables Gridline to leverage Shell’s established customer base and aligns with trends in fleet electrification and data-driven efficiency. Under the deal, Shell and Gridline will also collaborate on integrated fleet data solutions and a non-exclusive referral agreement, broadening service access for Shell clients. This milestone accelerates Gridline’s growth strategy, market expansion, and commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable fleet management technologies.
HARMAN Buys Masimo Corp
Masimo Corporation announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Sound United consumer audio division to HARMAN International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, for $350 million in cash, subject to adjustments. The decision followed a strategic review of the consumer audio segment and aligned with Masimo’s renewed focus on its core professional healthcare business. The transaction, expected to close by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approvals, marked a key milestone for Masimo’s Board, which aimed to enhance revenue growth and maintain disciplined margins.
HARMAN viewed the acquisition as a strategic move to strengthen its position in key audio categories and integrate Sound United’s renowned brands—such as Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, and Marantz—into its portfolio, alongside JBL, AKG, and others. Leadership from both companies expressed confidence that the deal would foster innovation, expand market presence, and better serve consumers.
Masimo CEO Katie Szyman emphasized that the sale supported her goal of streamlining operations and focusing resources on unmet clinical needs. Financial advisors for the deal included Centerview Partners LLC and Morgan Stanley, with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acting as legal counsel.
AKM Launches Ultra-Low Current PMICs
Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) introduced the AP4413 series, a set of ultra-low current power management ICs (PMICs) designed for energy harvesting battery charging applications. Consuming just 52 nA, these ICs support autonomous charging for small rechargeable batteries used in devices like IoT sensors, Bluetooth trackers, and remote controls. With four variants tailored to common battery types and housed in a compact HXQFN package, the AP4413 series entered mass production in February 2025.
The AP4413 features AKM’s proprietary voltage monitoring system to ensure efficient, stable charging even from weak or unstable energy sources such as indoor light or body heat. It prevents deep battery discharge, supports fast recovery, and allows operation even when batteries are fully depleted—ideal for applications where battery replacement is difficult. The product aligns with regulatory shifts, especially in Europe, toward phasing out disposable batteries in favor of rechargeable alternatives.
Indra, Audi, & Qualcomm Launch C-V2X Tolling In-Car Payments
Indra, Audi of America, and Qualcomm Technologies have partnered to launch a pioneering project using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology to modernize toll payments in the U.S. The initiative, leveraging the SAE J3217 C-V2X standard, aims to replace traditional toll systems with seamless in-car transactions that display real-time toll information and allow direct payments through vehicle interfaces. This system will eliminate the need for transponders or license plate recognition, reduce congestion at toll points, and cut operational costs for toll operators by streamlining transaction management. The project will debut in a live demo at OmniAir’s testing event on May 9, 2025, showcasing vehicle-level identification and instant toll confirmations. Long-term, the technology could support other services like parking and drive-through payments, positioning vehicles as platforms for secure, standardized transactions.
Jaguar Land Rover Welcomes UK-US Trade Agreement
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has expressed strong support for the recently announced UK-US trade agreement, emphasizing its significance for the UK automotive sector and the broader economy. In a statement released on May 8, 2025, JLR CEO Adrian Mardell acknowledged the deal’s role in providing greater certainty for the industry and the communities it supports.
“The car industry is vital to the UK’s economic prosperity, sustaining 250,000 jobs,” Mardell stated. “We warmly welcome this deal which secures greater certainty for our sector and the communities it supports. We would like to thank the UK and US Governments for agreeing this deal at pace and look forward to continued engagement over the coming months.”
The agreement includes a reduction in tariffs on UK car exports to the US, decreasing from 27.5% to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles annually. This move is expected to benefit UK car manufacturers, particularly JLR, by enhancing competitiveness in the US market and supporting job security within the industry.
While the deal has been met with some criticism for not encompassing a comprehensive free trade agreement, industry leaders view it as a positive step towards strengthening UK-US trade relations and supporting key sectors of the economy.
Continental Celebrates 200 Million Radars
Continental marks a major milestone with the production of 200 million radar sensors, highlighting its 25+ year leadership in automotive safety and driver assistance technology. Since introducing its first radar system in 1999 in the Mercedes S-Class, the company has significantly advanced radar capabilities, supporting features from adaptive cruise control to autonomous driving. The achievement underscores both technological progress and growing global demand for vehicle safety systems, with radar sensors now critical in modern ADAS solutions. Continental’s compact, AI-driven radar systems are tailored for diverse applications across passenger cars, trucks, and two-wheelers, with new high-performance models, including 4D imaging radars, set to power future autonomous mobility. With €1.5 billion in new orders for radar components, Continental continues to shape the future of safe and intelligent transportation.
Hyundai Motor Group Expands with HCloud Deployment on Equinix
Hyundai Motor Group is deploying its proprietary cloud platform, HCloud, across Equinix data centers worldwide to enhance the performance and scalability of its connected car services, which already serve over 10 million subscribers. Designed to meet the demands of real-time data processing and global connectivity, HCloud leverages Equinix’s International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) and Equinix Fabric® to interconnect with major public cloud providers like AWS.
Strategically located in Seoul, Los Angeles, and Frankfurt, the data centers provide low-latency, reliable infrastructure to support Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles. This hybrid multicloud approach enables faster, more responsive in-car applications and supports the Group’s transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
With 95% of new vehicles expected to be connected by 2030, Hyundai’s investment in cloud infrastructure positions it for continued growth, targeting 20 million CCS subscribers by 2026. The partnership with Equinix lays a robust foundation for smarter, safer, and more connected mobility worldwide.