Samsung is buying Harman ....

[Heidfirst]

& Harman supplies Toyota with the Go nav systems that we get.

This could possibly see a future change in supplier for Toyota navs as Japanese & Korean companies tend not to have close links ...

http://news.harman.com/releases/samsung-electronics-to-acquire-harman-accelerating-growth-in-automotive-and-connected-technologies?preview=1455

[FROSTYBALLS]

Samsung and Toyota have been working together since 2012 on smartphone connectivity and Samsung also talked with Toyota re the use of Samsung chips in vehicles.

[Heidfirst]

there is a difference between talking/working because you essentially have to (Toyota no.1 car manufacturer/Samsung no.1 mobile phone manufacturer & using an OS that accounts for 98% of mobile shipments - both will want interoperability) & having them as a hardware supplier. Lots of companies talk to vendors that have very little chance of ever being a supplier - it is an useful negotiating tool with your normal suppliers & it keeps lines open just in case of problems with an existing supplier or a genuinely revolutionary development.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Of course Samsung did manufacture cars in the late 90's before selling a majority stake to Renault in 2000, so they're not entirely new to the automotive world.

[Heidfirst]

Harman also own JBL Speakers (again Toyota use in certain vehicles/markets) & the rights to use B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) brand in relation to automotive speaker use.