Harman Acquires ZF's ADAS Business for €1.5 Billion

[M&A] Samsung-owned Harman has acquired ZF's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business for €1.5 billion (approximately RMB 11.7 billion).

⚡ Core Move: Harman Fully Enters the ADAS Market

Harman International will acquire core assets including smart cameras, radar technology, and ADAS software, accelerating its strategic push into software-defined vehicles and centralized computing architectures. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, involving the transfer of over 3,000 employees.

🔍 Strategic Rationale: ZF Focuses on E-Drive and Debt Reduction

ZF is divesting non-core businesses to alleviate debt refinancing pressure and advance its e-drive business restructuring, while retaining its commercial vehicle autonomous driving and chassis technology units. The company has recently initiated layoffs affecting tens of thousands of employees to address challenges stemming from its slow transition to electrification.

💡 Industry Impact: Strategic Divergence Among Tier-1 Suppliers Intensifies

As the world’s second-largest automotive supplier, ZF is scaling back its ADAS operations, while Samsung leverages Harman to strengthen its position in the intelligent vehicle sector—highlighting a broader industry trend of resource reallocation amid the wave of vehicle intelligence.