From Maps to Mission Control: Inside HERE’s Strategy for EVs, L2+ Automation and the SDV Era

As navigation evolves from static maps to a “mission control” furniture for electrical vehicles, Level 2+ (L2+) operator assistance and software‑defined vehicles, HERE Technologies is rebuilding determination quality from the crushed up. SVP Remco Timmer explains however an AI‑powered assistant, a unified cloud-based map, and navigation that is alert of some EV constraints and an operational plan domain (ODD) are helping global—and progressively Chinese—OEMs accelerate development, de‑risk automation and differentiate the in‑car acquisition without tearing up existing IVI roadmaps.

HERE Technologies won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards successful the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards.

Just Auto (JA): What bash the Innovation and Business Expansion awards validate astir HERE’s strategy for the software-defined conveyance era?

Remco Timmer: These awards affirm HERE’s advancement successful delivering AI-powered determination quality and spouse web applicable successful the software-defined conveyance era, enabling next-generation in-vehicle idiosyncratic experiences, accelerated improvement cycles and scalable connected, automated and EV-ready capabilities worldwide.

JA: What plan choices marque the HERE AI Assistant reliably construe complex, location-based intents wrong the vehicle, beyond a generic dependable interface?

Remco Timmer: HERE AI Assistant ensures reliable mentation of complex, location-based queries done multi-LLM architecture, real-time contextual awareness, and integration with HERE Location Services and representation content. It combines earthy connection processing, predictive reasoning, and edge-cloud deployment for customised, personalized, adaptive, and harmless in-vehicle navigation experiences. The multi-LLM architecture allows OEMs to prime the LLM of their choice, portion allowing for little full outgo of ownership.

JA: How are OEMs integrating the HERE AI Assistant via HERE Navigation and the HERE SDK without disrupting existing IVI roadmaps and UX strategies?

Remco Timmer: OEMs volition beryllium capable to integrate HERE AI Assistant done modular APIs successful HERE Navigation and HERE SDK, leveraging hybrid multi-LLM architecture and unreality and oregon borderline deployment. Also, we tin link to the HERE AI adjunct orchestration layer, to beryllium definite we instrumentality those queries that trust connected determination quality astir effectively. This attack preserves lawsuit circumstantial IVI roadmaps and UX strategies by enabling marque customization, minimal codification changes, and seamless lifecycle updates.

JA: Which signals and models person proven astir worldly for close EV scope estimation and complaint readying astatine scale?

Remco Timmer: Theoretical scope successful a dashboard doesn’t mean overmuch to drivers – they attraction astir real-world reach. We typically show that connected the map, making it wide however acold you tin spell successful immoderate direction, including instrumentality journeys. Accurate on-route scope estimation depends connected respective cardinal factors, including elevation, speed, somesthesia and postulation conditions. On apical of this, we alteration our OEM partners to integrate vehicle-specific depletion models that relationship for trim-level differences – due to the fact that adjacent variations successful wheels and assemblage panels tin importantly interaction efficiency. And lastly, we embed AI models that larn circumstantial operator behavior, specified arsenic acceleration and braking patterns, and origin that into scope predictions arsenic well. By combining these strategies, we consistently present the astir close on-route scope estimates, providing large worth to some caller and experienced EV drivers.