HARMAN International, a global leader in automotive technology and lifestyle audio and a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business of ZF Group in a transaction valued at €1.5 billion. The acquisition includes ZF’s advanced automotive compute platforms, smart cameras, radar technologies, and ADAS software capabilities.
The move marks a major strategic milestone for HARMAN as it accelerates its vision of “Consumer Experiences. Automotive Grade.”—bringing the speed, intelligence, and intuitive user experiences expected from consumer technology into vehicles, while meeting the stringent safety, reliability, and lifecycle requirements of the automotive industry. As automakers rapidly transition toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the acquisition positions HARMAN at the intersection of safety, assisted driving, connectivity, and in-cabin intelligence.
With this transaction, HARMAN secures a strong foothold in the fast-growing ADAS and central compute platforms market, reinforcing its role as a key enabler of next-generation vehicle architectures. By integrating ZF’s ADAS portfolio with HARMAN’s flagship Digital Cockpit solutions within a centralized compute framework, the company aims to create a unified platform that supports assisted and automated driving, safety systems, and immersive user experiences on shared hardware.
This centralized approach is expected to simplify system design, reduce integration complexity, and enable faster innovation cycles—allowing OEMs to scale differentiated, context-aware vehicle experiences more efficiently.
Commenting on the announcement, Christian Sobottka, Chief Executive Officer and President, Automotive Division, HARMAN, said,
“The industry is at an inflection point where safety, intelligence, and in-cabin experience must converge through a unified computing architecture. This agreement expands our portfolio with complementary ADAS capabilities, unlocking a new class of cross-domain experiences—from perception-informed audio cues to more personalized, situation-aware driving. Supported by Samsung’s broader technology leadership, this positions us to help OEMs design the next generation of intelligent, connected vehicles.”
From ZF’s perspective, the transaction enables sharper strategic focus. Mathias Miedreich, CEO of ZF Group, stated,
“With HARMAN, we have found the ideal partner to fully unlock the growth and innovation potential of our ADAS business. This transaction also supports our efforts to reduce debt and allows ZF to concentrate on the core technologies where we hold global leadership.”
Samsung highlighted the acquisition as a continuation of its long-term mobility strategy. Young Sohn, Chairman of the Board of Directors, HARMAN, and Senior Advisor, Samsung Electronics, noted that since Samsung acquired HARMAN in 2017, the company has grown its automotive and audio business from $7 billion to over $11 billion. “Adding ZF’s ADAS capabilities builds on this momentum and further strengthens HARMAN’s ability to deliver safer, more intelligent, and more intuitive in-vehicle experiences,” he said.
Echoing the strategic significance, Carolin Reichert, Chief Strategy Officer, HARMAN, described the transaction as a key milestone in executing HARMAN’s long-term roadmap, highlighting the successful management of a highly complex global carve-out in close collaboration with ZF.
Upon completion of the transaction, approximately 3,750 ZF employees across Europe, the Americas, and Asia are expected to transition to HARMAN. The deal is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Following the closing, HARMAN will integrate ZF’s ADAS capabilities into its centralized compute and digital cockpit roadmap, while continuing to support existing customer programs. The combined engineering and product teams will work together to accelerate innovation for scalable, safety-integrated, next-generation vehicle platforms.