'Driverless Cars Won't Displace Human-driven Vehicles Soon'
Forbes India|December 8, 2017

Harold Goddijn, CEO of the Dutch in-car navigation systems maker TomTom, talks about the road ahead for transportation technology

Harichandan Arakali
'Driverless Cars Won't Displace Human-driven Vehicles Soon'

Netherlands-based TomTom NV, founded in 1991, pioneered in-car navigation systems for millions of motorists around the world, but almost lost the way itself, caught off guard by the surge of smartphones and Google’s free maps, among other factors. But the Franco-Dutch couple—CEO Harold Goddijn (57) and Co-founder and Managing Director Corinne Vigreux (52)—who built the company with two other technologists, dug deep and reinvented themselves to stay relevant. Today TomTom continues to make reliable maps, but also licenses its software, sells telematics technologies and even fitness-focussed smartwatches.

Goddijn was in India recently to visit TomTom’s software development centre in Pune, and spoke to Forbes India about the future of transportation, and India’s push towards electric cars.

Q How has TomTom changed, especially in recent years?

The world has changed, but we’re still loyal to our old mission of helping people go from [point] A to B, and changing how mobility works. [However] we’ve moved into modern map-making, traffic information, telematic services, and online APIs.

We’ve also had to change our business model, partly under pressure from the proliferation of mobile phones, which brings a whole new dynamic. We have become, over the last four or five years, much more of a business-to-business operation. We still have a significant retail and consumer business, but the growth and the strategic direction is much more towards business customers.

We have fantastic technologies for location, mapping, and APIs; we’ve a very good customer base, including Apple, Uber, Microsoft, and most of the important car makers around the world. We’ve reinvented ourselves in the last five years, and now we’re back to grow in the areas we’ve chosen to play.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FORBES INDIAView all
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
Forbes India

Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued

The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
Forbes India

Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years

As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 4, 2021
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Forbes India

THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN

Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Forbes India

LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment

time-read
7 mins  |
May 21, 2021
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Forbes India

PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST

Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground

time-read
9 mins  |
May 21, 2021
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
Forbes India

INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR

While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
Forbes India

DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION

As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India

time-read
8 mins  |
May 21, 2021
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Forbes India

Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?

Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent

time-read
10 mins  |
June 4, 2021
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Forbes India

EV Dream Still Miles Away

Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure

time-read
6 mins  |
June 4, 2021
Living Waters
Forbes India

Living Waters

A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet

time-read
4 mins  |
June 4, 2021