兔子先生传媒

This week, Honda R&D, of Redwood City, Calif.-based , a developer of smartphone apps for drivers, for an undisclosed amount. The deal is notable because it marks Honda鈥檚 first startup acquisition, according to a .

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Honda R&D is the Tokyo-based research and development subsidiary of Honda. Drivemode had raised just in funding from investors such as and since it was founded in 2014 by a team whose experience included time with and . It is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda R&D.

In 2015, Drivermode released its flagship product (named after the company), an Android app that gives drivers the ability to control their cars without watching the app鈥檚 screen. Per the company鈥檚 , 鈥淒rivemode鈥檚 voice-enabled commands and large buttons鈥� let drivers focus on driving with the ability to 鈥渦se voice-control, a broad swipe, or a single tap鈥� to 鈥渕ove seamlessly between applications.鈥� Drivemode鈥檚 safe driving app has over 2.5 million downloads in 150 countries.

In a press release, Honda R&D said the goal of the acquisition was to 鈥渇urther strengthen Honda鈥檚 new value creation in the areas of digital and connected mobility products.鈥�

The two entities had been working together and 鈥渃onducting joint development activities鈥� since 2015 through Honda鈥檚 Xcelerator program. The program is a collaboration between startups and Honda. Silicon Valley-based Honda Innovations, a subsidiary of Honda R&D, has led the global program.

Earlier this year, Honda stepped up its digital technology game when it established a 鈥淒igital Solution Center鈥� within Honda R&D.

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