Harman to acquire ZF’s ADAS business

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With the integration of ZF ADAS, Harman says its central automotive platform will be better set up to power the in-car safety, intelligence and experiences of an increasingly software-defined vehicle (SDV) era.

It says the key benefits are:

• An acceleration of Harman’s experience-driven roadmap by unifying safety, comfort, perception, intelligence and in-cabin systems into one platform for OEMs.
• Future-oriented ADAS: ZF’s ADAS capabilities deepen Harman’s ability to deliver intelligent, connected, safety-driven in-vehicle experiences.
• Unlocking value for OEMs. Harman maintains the integration supports faster innovation cycles, reduced system complexity and a unified computing foundation that allows automakers to ‘deliver smarter, safer and more human-centric vehicles at scale’.

As automakers accelerate towards software-defined vehicles (SDV), Harman says this approach enables experiences that seamlessly connect safety and assisted driving functions with comfort, connectivity, and in-vehicle intelligence. Moreover, Harman says the acquisition secures 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.

It will also allow the integration of ZF’s ADAS capabilities with Harman’s flagship Digital Cockpit offerings within a centralised compute design.

“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, Chief Executive Officer 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 personalised, 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 $7 billion to more than $11 billion 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.”

“This transaction marks a major milestone in the execution of Harman’s long-term strategy and further strengthens our portfolio,” said Carolin Reichert, Chief Strategy Officer of Harman. “Throughout the process, we worked in a very constructive collaboration with ZF and demonstrated our ability to successfully execute a highly complex carve-out.”

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 centralised compute and digital cockpit roadmap. Harman also said the companies will maintain strong support for existing programs while aligning engineering, ADAS and compute teams to accelerate innovation for next-generation platforms.

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