Talks are still underway
According to a source in the auto industry, who preferred to remain anonymous, “talks have not broken down, but they are at a delicate stage of brinkmanship.”
The consortium of German car makers includes companies like BMW, Daimler and Audi, which are big clients of HERE.
They can't let Nokia's maps business to be acquired by a rival technology company, since it could affect their access to high-definition maps, thus slowing their ability to expand in the area of connected cars.
There's one more player in the bidding process: private equity firm General Atlantic. The German car makers consortium has been in talks with General Atlantic for a possible financial help over HERE bid, but the firm is not part of the negotiating team yet.
However, the private equity firm could join the German car makers group at a later stage if the need arises, as a “neutral referee” with other potential partners.