TOKYO: Honda R&D Co., Ltd. (Honda R&D), a research and development subsidiary of Honda, announced that it has acquired all of the outstanding shares of the California-based Drivemode, Inc., in order to further strengthen Honda’s new value creation in the areas of digital and connected mobility products.
With the acquisition, on September 26, 2019, Drivemode became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda R&D.
Drivemode is a startup that develops and operates smartphone-based connected services, excelling in multiple areas such as the development of the user interface and application as well as cloud-based technologies.
Honda R&D and Drivemode have been collaborating and conducting joint development activities since 2015 through the Honda Xcelerator program, an open innovation program Honda has been pursuing on a global basis.
Honda Xcelerator is an open innovation program promoting collaboration between startups and Honda. Silicon Valley-based Honda Innovations, a subsidiary of Honda R&D, has been the main driving force behind this global program.
“As a step toward the realization of value creation for mobility and enhancing people’s daily lives, which is an integral part of Honda’s 2030 Vision, we decided to further enhance our collaborative relationship with Drivemode,” said President and Representative Director of Honda R&D, Toshihiro Mibe.
