Boost For Retrofit Connectivity with Tantalum Acquisition
Retrofitting vehicle connectivity could get a boost with the announcement that connected car platform provider Tantalum is expanding with the take-over of a Swedish ecosystem operator.
It has acquired Springworks, whose customers include European telecoms Telia and autoSense, which has joint ventures with telecom provider Swisscom and car importer and dealer, AMAG. Together, the companies will become one of the largest connected car solution providers in the world with significantly extended scope across the major markets of Europe and the US.
The deal looks to combine both company’s strengths, with Tantalum’s Pay.Car and automotive experience complimenting Springworks’ front-end capabilities and experience on-boarding service providers like insurance, car dealerships, parking, fleets and repair. The move follows Tantalum’s recent launch in the US in partnership with Harman providing application, ecosystem services and payments for the Harman Spark product sold exclusively through AT&T. Tantalum is hoping the deal will contribute to both current and future deals and partnerships with global telecommunications companies, automakers and dealerships, while also providing an ideal partner for car service providers.
Ozgur Tohumcu, CEO of Tantalum Corporation, said: “Customer demand and network capabilities have primed the industry for explosive growth in connected vehicles, services and data monetization.”
Erik Ramberg, CEO and co-founder of Springworks, added: “Bringing together Tantalum’s strong payment solutions to our ecosystems of service providers is a great example where we become unique and attractive to service providers and cities on their way to Mobility-as-a-Service solutions.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
