After years of spotting camera-laden Google and Apple cars documenting Israel’s streets, the international firm HERE Technologies has now launched its own 3D mapping vehicle in the country. Equipped with advanced cameras and sensors, the car is part of a global initiative to create ultra-precise digital maps.
The vehicle, clearly marked, will operate across urban and intercity areas through February 2026. It will document roads, signage, traffic markings and points of interest such as stores, restaurants and gas stations.
According to the company, all imagery is securely encrypted and transferred to a protected facility, where specialized software and algorithms process the data. Faces and license plates are automatically blurred before the images are integrated into HERE’s global map platform. The resulting maps will serve as rich, highly detailed layers designed to support innovative services aimed at improving road safety, easing congestion and enhancing urban navigation.
Unlike Google and Apple maps, which primarily serve end users, HERE’s mapping products are business-oriented (B2B) and cater to clients such as automakers, logistics companies, governments and tech firms. They feature high-definition (HD) resolution with centimeter-level accuracy.
HERE is considered a major player in the autonomous vehicle space. Its maps function as “supplemental sensors” for self-driving cars, enabling them to “see” far beyond their physical sensor range and make safe driving decisions. The maps include roadway geometry, driving profiles, signage and other data essential to geographic information systems (GIS) and software applications.
The company also gathers information from other sources, including large vehicle fleets, roadside sensors and more. Notably, Waymo — Google’s autonomous vehicle unit — also develops HD maps for its own fleet but does not make them available to third-party automakers, unlike HERE.
Originally founded in Finland by Nokia during its days as a mobile phone giant, HERE’s navigation technology was once embedded in Nokia devices. Today, the company is co-owned by industry giants such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz (Daimler), Volkswagen-Audi, Mitsubishi, Intel and NTT.
In the past, HERE operated a local division in Israel called HERE Mobility, which at its peak included a development center with 260 employees. The unit created a ride-sharing app and marketplace mapping all transportation options — from taxi stands and car rentals to bike shares — before closing in 2020.