Samsung acquires ZF’s driver-assistance unit for $1.77 bil.

Samsung Electronics’ audio electronics unit Harman International acquired the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) business of Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen, accelerating the company’s push into the electric auto parts sector. Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it has signed a contract with the German company to take over the ADAS business at 1.5 billion euros ($1.77 billion). The deal is set to close within the next year. This marks Samsung Electronics’ first M&A move in the automotive sector since it acquired Harman in 2017, and comes as the latest addition to a string of takeovers announced this year, including Germany’s FlaktGroup in climate control, the ADAS, the audio business of U.S.-based Masimo and U.S. digital health firm Xealth. ZF is one of the world’s leading electric auto parts makers, with its ADAS business is leading the global market for smart cameras for driver assistance. Samsung Electronics said the takeover will accelerate Harman’s entry into the fast-growing ADAS market by securing key technologies and products that play a central role in driver assis