Hyperdrive
TomTom Bets It's Found a Way to Deal With Slow Death of Sat Nav
- HD maps are only first step for autonomous driving, CEO says
- Amsterdam-based firm sees margins grow as topline falters
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Self-driving cars may not be on the road anytime soon, but that isn’t stopping Dutch navigation device maker TomTom NV from investing in high-definition maps needed when autonomous driving becomes the norm.
Later this year, the first trucks will hit the road with software and maps from TomTom that will automatically adjust speed when a curve or climb comes up. The products, aimed at cutting petrol use for now, are part of the ever-expanding technology needed for driverless vehicles -- if and when they become ubiquitous. TomTom Chief Executive Officer Harold Goddijn is not losing any sleep over when that might be.