KOTEI and HERE Partner to Advance AI-Native Navigation and Software-Defined Vehicle Innovation

Strategic collaboration combines real-time location intelligence and AI-powered automotive software to help accelerate next-generation mobility worldwide.

BEIJING, April 25, 2026 — KOTEI, a global leader in AI-powered automotive software, and HERE, a leading location data and mapping technology company, today announced a strategic collaboration to develop next-generation AI-native navigation and in-vehicle software solutions for the software-defined vehicle era.

Announced at Auto China 2026, the collaboration brings together HERE’s industry-leading real-time map intelligence and geospatial technologies with KOTEI’s expertise in AI-driven automotive software engineering, with the shared goal of delivering more intelligent, connected and scalable mobility solutions for automakers worldwide.

Executives from both companies, including Dr. Zhu Dunyao, Chairman of KOTEI; Wang Junde, General Manager of KOTEI; Lv Nan, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing and CEO of KOTEI Germany; and Deon Newman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific at HERE, attended the signing ceremony.

Reimagining Navigation for the AI-Native Vehicle

At the core of the collaboration is a shared vision to transform navigation from a route-guidance tool into an intelligent, decision-driven mobility experience.

Built on HERE SDK and a streamlined global map architecture, the joint solution combines AI-powered interaction, real-time location intelligence and automotive-grade software integration designed for software-defined vehicles.

KOTEI is embedding AI deeply into the navigation stack through intelligent agent technologies that can interpret driver intent, learn from real-world behavior and dynamically support decision-making. Combined with HERE’s global point-of-interest coverage across more than 200 countries and regions, along with geospatial intelligence capable of validating open-source information in real time, the solution shifts navigation from simply presenting options to delivering context-aware answers.

The result is a more proactive and personalized driving experience — one that goes beyond traditional route planning to support intelligent mobility decisions tailored to user needs and real-world conditions.

Automakers will also be able to customize this decision-driven engine to create differentiated cockpit experiences, moving beyond one-size-fits-all search models common in consumer platforms.

Expanding Collaboration Across the Software-Defined Vehicle Stack

Beyond navigation, the strategic collaboration is designed to extend across broader software-defined vehicle innovation, including:

• Intelligent cockpit systems

• Intelligent driving solutions

• Advanced autonomous driving components

• Central computing platforms

• In-vehicle operating systems and middleware frameworks

By combining HERE’s location intelligence with KOTEI’s deep expertise in vehicle software architecture, the companies aim to help automakers accelerate development of globally scalable, cloud-connected and AI-enhanced vehicle platforms.

Building on Proven Production Experience

The collaboration builds on an existing foundation of large-scale production programs.

KOTEI has already developed advanced in-vehicle navigation solutions based on HERE SDK for one of China’s top ten automotive manufacturers, with deployments already scaled across multiple production vehicle programs.

This new agreement expands that momentum, opening a broader roadmap for joint innovation in AI-native mobility solutions.

Executive Perspectives

“AI is redefining how software-defined vehicles are developed and experienced,” said Dr. Zhu Dunyao, Chairman of KOTEI. “Together with HERE, we are advancing a new generation of intelligent navigation and vehicle software solutions designed for the future of mobility.”

“The convergence of real-time location intelligence and AI-native software opens significant opportunities for automakers globally,” said Deon Newman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific, HERE. “Through this collaboration, we are helping shape smarter, more connected mobility experiences.”

Accelerating the Future of AI-Powered Mobility

As the automotive industry moves deeper into the software-defined era, intelligent navigation is becoming a critical layer of vehicle intelligence.

Through this strategic collaboration, KOTEI and HERE are working to establish a new benchmark for AI-native navigation systems — continuously learning, always connected and designed to adapt to real-world driving behavior.

Together, the companies are helping drive the next evolution of intelligent mobility.

About HERE Technologies

HERE has been a global leader in mapping and location technology for more than 40 years, providing location intelligence that powers industries ranging from automotive to logistics and beyond. With one of the industry’s richest unified map platforms, HERE enables organizations worldwide to build smarter, more connected systems. Learn more at here.com.

About KOTEI

KOTEI (SZSE: 301221) is a global leader in AI + Automotive Software, providing AI-powered software engineering and vehicle software solutions for the intelligent mobility era. Its innovations span AI-native development platforms, vehicle operating systems, intelligent cockpit, intelligent driving, navigation, cloud-connected vehicle systems and full-domain SDV solutions.