Harman is to acquire the ADAS business of ZF Group, comprising automotive compute solutions, smart cameras, radar and ADAS software functions, for €1.5bn. Harman’s ‘consumer experiences – automotive grade’ strategy is about bringing the speed, intelligence and ease of use people expect from top tech products into the car – without compromising on automotive safety, reliability, or long-term support, it says. The goal is to create experiences where safety and driver assistance work smoothly alongside comfort, connectivity and in-vehicle intelligence.
By integrating ZF’s ADAS capabilities with Harman’s digital cockpit solutions within a centralized compute design, the acquisition will bolster Harman’s roadmap for future vehicle architectures. The combination creates a foundation for future central compute solutions that bring assisted and automated driving solutions, safety and user experiences on a shared platform. This approach simplifies system design, reduces integration effort and shortens innovation cycles – making it easier for Harman to help OEMs scale distinctive, context-aware vehicle experiences.
“The industry is at an inflection point where safety, intelligence and in-cabin experience must come together through a unified computing architecture,” said Christian Sobottka, CEO and president, automotive division, Harman. “With this agreement, we take a strategic step to expand our portfolio with complementary ADAS capabilities that unlock a new class of cross-domain experiences ranging from perception-informed audio cues to more personalized, situation-aware driving. Combined with Harman’s long-standing automotive expertise and supported by Samsung’s broader technology leadership, this positions us to help OEMs design the next generation of intelligent, empathetic and connected vehicles.”
“With Harman, we have found the ideal partner to fully unlock the growth and innovation potential of our ADAS business,” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of ZF Group. “At the same time, this deal makes an important contribution to reducing our company’s debt and allows us to focus our resources on the core technologies in which ZF is a global leader.”
Said Young Sohn, chairman of the board of directors, Harman and senior advisor, Samsung Electronics, “Samsung has a successful record of strategic acquisitions that accelerate innovation and expand what’s possible for our customers. Since acquiring Harman in 2017, the company has scaled its automotive and audio business from US$7bn to more than US$11bn today. Adding ZF’s ADAS capabilities builds on that momentum. Harman will further expand its technology foundation to deliver safer, more intelligent and more intuitive in-vehicle experiences. This acquisition reinforces Harman’s leadership in the industry’s transformation and underscores Samsung’s long term commitment to the future of mobility.”
As part of the agreement, approximately 3,750 ZF employees across Europe, the Americas and Asia will transition to Harman. It is expected that the transaction will be finalized in the second half of 2026, subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals.
The companies will maintain strong support for existing programs while aligning engineering, ADAS and compute teams to expedite development for next-generation platforms.
