HARMAN International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., has agreed to acquire the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business of ZF Group for €1.5 billion.
The acquisition covers ZF’s automotive compute solutions, smart cameras, radars and ADAS software functions. HARMAN said the deal is intended to strengthen its position in ADAS and centralised vehicle electronics as carmakers move towards software-defined vehicles.
HARMAN plans to integrate ZF’s ADAS capabilities with its digital cockpit systems within a centralised compute architecture. The company said this approach is intended to support the development of vehicle platforms that combine assisted and automated driving functions with in-vehicle systems on shared hardware.
“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 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.”
ZF said the sale will allow it to focus on its core technology areas while reducing debt.
“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 said the acquisition builds on HARMAN’s expansion since it was acquired by Samsung in 2017.
“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.”
HARMAN said the transaction is also a key step in its long-term strategy.
“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.”
Around 3,750 ZF employees in Europe, the Americas and Asia are expected to transfer to HARMAN once the deal is completed. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Following completion, HARMAN said it will integrate the ADAS business into its centralised compute and digital cockpit plans, while continuing to support existing customer programmes.
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