What Drivemode does

Drivemode is a mobile-based connected car software company founded in 2014 by entrepreneurs from Zipcar and Tesla Motors, and acquired by Honda in 2019. The company operates as a subsidiary within the Honda/Acura global brand, maintaining an independent startup culture while delivering software for Honda's customers globally. Its core technology is a smartphone-as-central-computing-device platform that delivers an automotive-grade, voice-enabled driving interface for Android, providing hands-free messaging, music overlay on navigation, Do Not Disturb mode, real-time location sharing, and driving behavior analytics across 10+ messaging apps, 9+ navigation apps, and multiple music/podcast services. The company holds US Patent 9898079B2 related to driver distraction detection and mitigation and was a pioneer in obtaining a Google Play Store 'Safety Aid' app exception category.

The company's product portfolio now spans four lines: (1) the original Drivemode Android consumer app (free, freemium with in-app premium store); (2) Honda RoadSync, Honda's first connected app for motorcycles and cars, launched in 2020; (3) a vehicle companion app and platform for Honda/Acura's next-generation electric vehicles globally, expanding into in-vehicle infotainment (IVI); and (4) a modern software platform including mobile app and infotainment system for Honda's new electric motorcycles, deployed across multiple countries, with in-house hardware prototyping capability.

Drivemode operates a hybrid business model. On the consumer side, it runs a product-led freemium motion via Google Play Store with minimal direct monetization (e.g., removing in-app branding, KKP Bluetooth controller integration). On the OEM side, it derives revenue from software development and licensing agreements with Honda for embedded vehicle and motorcycle platforms, with no disclosed contract values. The company is headquartered in Redwood City/Mountain View, California, with a Tokyo engineering office supporting Honda motorcycle software development. Following the 2019 acquisition, the strategic mandate has progressively deepened — culminating in 2023 with CEO Yo Koga's elevation to Honda Global UX Officer and explicit expansion into EV software and IVI systems.

Name

Drivemode

Legal name

Drivemode, Inc.

Website

https://drivemode.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Drivemode is a Honda-owned subsidiary that builds mobile-based connected car software, including a freemium Android driving app and OEM vehicle companion apps, IVI systems, and electric motorcycle platforms for Honda/Acura globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consumer App (Freemium): Free Android app with optional premium features sold through an in-app Premium Store. Premium features include removing Drivemode branding from the app. The core app is free with no advertisements.
2. OEM/Embedded Software (B2B): Vehicle companion app and platform software licensed to and developed with Honda for integration into Honda/Acura electric vehicles and electric motorcycles globally. Revenue derived from OEM software development and licensing agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drivemode develops mobile-based connected vehicle software and platforms for the Honda/Acura global brand. Its offerings include a vehicle companion app and platform for Honda's next-generation electric vehicles, a modern software platform for Honda's new electric motorcycles (mobile app and infotainment system), and a consumer Android driving app (Drivemode) that provides a voice-enabled, simplified in-car interface for messaging, music, navigation, and calling.

Product overview

Drivemode operates as a mobile-based connected car platform, offering a suite of products centered on safer, smarter driving experiences. The core offering is the Drivemode Android app (free consumer app with voice-enabled driving interface), which transforms any smartphone into a vehicle central computing device. Under the Honda/Acura umbrella, Drivemode develops the Honda RoadSync connected app (launched 2020), a vehicle companion app & platform for Honda's next-generation electric vehicles, and a modern software platform for Honda's electric motorcycles. The products share a unified mission of integrating hardware and software for drivers and riders, working closely with Honda's vehicle experts to deliver connected mobility experiences across multiple vehicle types and markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honda/Acura Vehicle Companion App & Platform A next-generation connected vehicle companion app and platform for Honda and Acura's electric vehicles, providing critical connected service functionality. Designed in close collaboration with Honda's hardware and vehicle experts to integrate software and hardware as a single experience.
• Honda Electric Motorcycle Software Platform A modern software platform for Honda's new electric motorcycles, encompassing a mobile app and infotainment system deployed across multiple countries. Includes in-house hardware prototyping to enable rapid learning and deeply integrated software and hardware experiences for motorcycle riders.
• Honda RoadSync Honda's first connected app for motorcycles and cars, providing an intuitive interface for swift transitions between calling, navigation, playing music, and messaging. Released in 2020 with the Honda motorcycle team.
• Drivemode Android App Free Android consumer app providing an automotive-grade, voice-enabled driving interface that lets drivers safely use calling, messaging, navigation, and music through a simplified dashboard. Includes premium in-app upgrades such as removal of branding and KKP Controller integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drivemode Android App: 1.2 million downloads in 150 countries (as of October 2017)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration46 records

AI capability2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Honda (Acura)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Drivemode was acquired by Honda in 2019 and operates as an independent subsidiary within the Honda/Acura global brand. The partnership involves developing next-generation vehicle companion apps and platforms for Honda's electric vehicles, IVI systems, and electric motorcycles. In 2023, Drivemode's CEO Yo Koga was named Honda Global UX Officer, signaling deeper integration of Drivemode's software expertise into Honda's global vehicle software strategy.
• Arity and Answer MarketplacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2017Drivemode partnered with Arity (a mobility data company) and Answer Marketplace to connect drivers with insurance companies, enabling data-driven insurance offerings based on driving behavior data collected through the Drivemode app.
• Consumer ReportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsumer Reports featured Drivemode in an article on technology to reduce driving distractions, recommending Drivemode as a simplified device interface solution that 'can help save lives,' providing third-party validation of the product's safety value proposition.
• The New York TimesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe New York Times featured Drivemode in an article on safe driving apps, highlighting the app's voice commands and simplified interface as a solution for drivers wanting to use smartphones safely while driving.
• Google (Android Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationDrivemode operates as an Android-native app distributed through Google Play Store, integrating with Google services including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google+ Community. The app uses Android system permissions for notification access, call handling, and SMS functions, and was the subject of a significant policy dispute with Google Play that resulted in Drivemode pioneering a new app exception category.
• Messaging App Integrations (Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, LINE, Skype, Gmail, Hangouts, Twitter, KakaoTalk, Telegram, SMS)coreTechnology or IntegrationDrivemode integrates with 10+ messaging platforms enabling hands-free reading and voice-reply to messages from apps including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, LINE, Skype, Gmail, Hangouts, Twitter, KakaoTalk, and Telegram. The app also supports MMS for Facebook Messenger and Samsung/Google Messages apps.
• Navigation App Integrations (Google Maps, Waze, Sygic, Scout, Mapquest, NavFree, Maps.Me, CoPilot, MapFactor)coreTechnology or IntegrationDrivemode integrates with major navigation apps enabling it to overlay music controls on top of navigation displays. Supported apps include Google Maps, Waze, Sygic, Scout, Mapquest, NavFree, Maps.Me, CoPilot, and MapFactor.
• Music App Integrations (Spotify, Google Play Music, Player.fm)coreTechnology or IntegrationDrivemode supports music playback controls for apps including Spotify, Google Play Music, and Player.fm, with a special integration with Player.fm to view playlists. Music player overlay on navigation is a flagship feature of the Drivemode interface.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Google Android Auto: Google's native in-car platform provides hands-free voice, navigation, and messaging integration for drivers. It is the de facto Android-based connected car UX that Drivemode both integrates with and competes against in the consumer hands-free driving interface category.
• Apple CarPlay: Apple's iOS-native in-car platform offers voice, navigation, and messaging hands-free functionality and is increasingly bundled by default by automakers. It is a direct substitute for Drivemode's consumer app experience and a comparable reference for OEM-connected vehicle UX.

Broad incumbents

• BlackBerry QNX: QNX supplies automotive-grade operating systems, IVI platforms, and embedded software to most major OEMs. It is a direct incumbent competitor to Drivemode's emerging IVI ambitions and a benchmark for embedded automotive software at scale.
• Harman International (Samsung): Harman is a tier-1 supplier of connected car solutions, IVI systems, and automotive cybersecurity owned by Samsung. It competes with Drivemode for OEM software budgets across multiple automakers at scale.
• Elektrobit: Elektrobit specializes in embedded automotive software, IVI, ADAS, and connected vehicle solutions for global OEMs. It is a comparable automotive software platform vendor competing for similar software-defined vehicle contracts.
• Wind River Systems: Wind River provides real-time operating systems and software platforms for automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications. Its automotive offerings overlap with Drivemode's ambitions in IVI and connected vehicle software.
• Aptiv: Aptiv is a global tier-1 supplier delivering connected car, ADAS, and signal/power solutions. It competes with Drivemode for automotive software and integration budgets across multiple OEMs at scale.
• Continental AG: Continental is a tier-1 automotive supplier providing connected vehicle, IVI, and software-defined vehicle solutions globally. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same OEM software wallet that Drivemode targets within Honda.

Emerging players

• Cerence: Cerence builds AI-powered voice, gesture, and emotion recognition for in-car experiences. It is a comparable emerging player in the in-cabin voice and conversational AI space that Drivemode's hands-free driving interface overlaps with.
• SoundHound for Auto: SoundHound provides voice AI assistants for automotive OEMs, including programs serving Honda-adjacent customers. It competes with Drivemode's voice-enabled driving interface as an emerging voice-AI platform supplier to automakers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drivemode
• Facebookfacebook.com/DrivemodeFans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drivemode

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drivemode