Harman Becker Automotive Systems

Harman Becker Automotive Systems is part of the car division of the US concern, Harman International Industries.

The present company goes back to the German car radio and navigation systems manufacturer, Becker. This firm was founded in 1949 from a repair workshop in the Baden town of Pforzheim. Its founder was Max Egon Becker. In 1995, the US concern, Harman International, took over the firm.

The company, with its head office in Karlsbad near Karlsruhe and other bases in the USA and Hungary developed and integrated complete infotainment systems worldwide. Its product range runs from navigation systemes, voice control and HMIs to audio and entertainment technologies. From its earliest days, Harman Becker Automotive Systems was a supplier to Mercedes-Benz, but also supplies marques such as Audi, Porsche, Peugeot, Hyundai, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, BMW and Mini. Worldwide, Harman Becker has 28 bases in the following countries: Germany, USA, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Hungary, Canada, Mexico, South Africa (to 2008), Japan, South Korea and China. Since 11 January 2010 Harman Becker Automotive Systems has pulled out of the market for mobile navigation. The marque rights for Becker Traffic Assist, Becker Traffic Assist Pro etc. were given to United Navigation. Under the latter's roof, the brands Falk and Becker continue to run.

Since 2008, as part of the strategy of its parent concern, Harman International, the company's divisions have been increasingly based in low-wage economies, so that the number of employees in its German bases has dropped from 3,800 in 2008 to 2,250 in 2013. The bases of Hechingen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Schaidt and Hamburg (Innovative Systems, sold in 2008 to Neusoft China as Neusoft Technology Solutions) were closed down or sold off. In November 2016 it is understood that Samsung Electronics acquired the Harman Concern for eight billion US dollars.