Harman International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) business of ZF Group, comprising leading automotive compute solutions, smart cameras, radars and ADAS software functions, in a transaction valued at €1.5bn.
Harman’s ‘Consumer Experiences – Automotive Grade’ strategy focuses on bringing the speed, intelligence and intuitive experiences consumers expect from leading technology brands into vehicles, while also meeting the highest standards for automotive safety, reliability and long-term platform support. As auto makers accelerate toward software-defined vehicles (SDV), this approach enables experiences that seamlessly connect safety and assisted driving functions with comfort, connectivity and in-vehicle intelligence. With this acquisition, Harman says it has secured strategic inroads in the ADAS and central compute platforms markets, reinforcing a foundation that anchors and advances its role in the fast-growing SDV market.
By integrating ZF’s ADAS capabilities with Harman’s flagship Intelligent Cockpit offerings within a centralized compute design, the acquisition will bolster Harman’s roadmap for next-generation 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 streamlines system design, reduces integration complexity and supports more efficient innovation cycles, allowing Harman to help OEMs to scale differentiated, 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.”
“Samsung has a successful record of strategic acquisitions that accelerate innovation and expand what’s possible for our customers,” said Young Sohn, chairman of the board of directors, Harman and senior advisor, Samsung Electronics. “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 are expected to transition to Harman upon closing of the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals.
Upon closing, Harman will integrate ZF’s ADAS capabilities into its centralized compute and digital cockpit roadmap, enabling OEMs to deploy more scalable, safety-integrated vehicle architectures. The companies will maintain strong support for existing programs while aligning engineering, ADAS and compute teams to accelerate innovation for next-generation platforms.
In related news, Harman’s V2N tool provides real-time contextual insights for safer driving