CES has become more of a mobility show now, and this year we met different players across the mobility value chain, showcasing solutions to redefine the automobile industry with solutions from silicon to software to sensors to power Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) to Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles.

We had an opportunity to sit down with Mike Nefkens, CEO of the world’s leading location data and mapping platform HERE which powers seven out of ten vehicles on the road with their maps data and advanced navigation solutions. We discussed everything from Mike’s journey as becoming the CEO of one of the most important assets powering the mobility industry to the partnerships, progress and vision ahead for HERE.

The Interview

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

Mike took the reins as HERE’s CEO almost more than a year ago and helped stabilize the company, gaining support from the board and uniquely diverse set of shareholders and introducing his vision and new strategy to take the company to the next level.

Four areas where Mike has already made an impact with his team are building strong foundations for the company:

• Financial Stability: Positive cash flow and strong financials in 2024. Record bookings growth and strong pipeline.

• Strategy and Vision: Aligning shareholders and board behind priorities and strategy.

• Standardizing Offerings: Moving from custom solutions to standardized products with Symphony Core and premium services.

• Customer Engagement: Encouraging customers to adopt the new roadmap for fresher maps and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

We touched upon various topics:

Premium Map and Advanced Driving:

• Three Pillars: Counterpoint believes - Software, silicon, and sensors are key pillars to the future of mobility, and we discussed how HERE is at the centre of this and an important part of the value chain to integrate all three pillars with a single source of ground truth (the map).

• Collaboration: We double-clicked on the importance of sensors and maps working together for automated functions and safety.

• Safety Focus: Talking about safety, how HERE has expanded its offerings to provide ISA maps, live updates, traffic, and incident reports, essential for vehicle safety.

CES Announcements:

• AWS Partnership: 10-year partnership with AWS for advanced map making and improved map freshness to update maps from months to weeks to hours.

• BMW Partnership: Premier partner for innovation, showcasing BMW 7 series with HERE's full map data, premium features, growing integration with Qualcomm stack and more.

• Qualcomm Demo: Advanced driving circuit demo with Qualcomm, showcasing hands-free advanced driving capabilities integrating Qualcomm’s chip and sensing stack with HERE map.

• Chinese OEMs: Growing traction with Chinese OEMs for export, especially mapping in Europe and HERE Is working with more than 10 OEMs for its maps.

• TOGG (Turkish OEM): New vehicle production from the Turkish startup company with a full new-gen software stack-driven vehicle with HERE's map at the core of the stack.

• CES Presence: Doubling their presence at CES with BMW and Lotus vehicles featuring HERE's solutions and series of demos and showcases from Gen AI assistant to Intelligent Maps for ADAS/ADS.

• Analyst takeaways:

  • Having followed HERE and the location platform industry for the last 16 years, we have seen the evolution from powering PNDs to becoming a maps data, location intelligence and services platform powering not only automobiles but enterprises, IoT and beyond which require location as a context sensor.

  • HERE has been very flexible with customers, while expanding into multiple domains and trying different things under Edzard as CEO. However, Mike’s approach is laser focus and adopting “simplicity” to scale the business and opportunities ahead, especially in the dollar automotive and mobility industry

  • HERE’s progress in 2024 has been encouraging for the investors, partners and its customers with growing competition from TomTom and changing industry dynamics and supplier relationships

  • HERE remains a leader in Counterpoint’s CORE benchmarks among 25+ location platforms powering the entire world’s location intelligence and mapping needs as well as in many different aspects of the platform from maps data licensing to ISA maps and striking key partnerships and customer wins.

  Overall, it was a great showcase for HERE from its progress as a company and also for Mike Nefkens the new CEO trying to build a strong foundation and direction for the company