Vodafone aims to be a global provider for the connected car

Vodafone has announced its intentions to acquire Cobra Automotive Technologies through a voluntary tender offer. The telecom carrier has entered into an agreement with the main shareholders.

Cobra is a leading provider of security and telematics solutions to the automotive and insurance industries. Headquartered in Italy and listed on the Milan stock exchange. The Company has a global presence which includes operations in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The group provides vehicle manufacturers, dealerships and after-market customers with a range of products and services, including telematics, usage-based insurance, and vehicle tracking.

The acquisition of Cobra is in line with Vodafone’s strategy to expand its machine-to-machine (“M2M”) capability beyond connectivity. Cobra’s telematics products and expertise will enable Vodafone to provide a more comprehensive range of end-to-end services to automotive customers.

The combination will create a new global provider of connected car services, delivering a full range of telematics services.