AutoNavi

Digital Maps and Navigationmobile.amap.com

AutoNavi (Amap) is a Chinese digital map and navigation provider, operating as an Alibaba subsidiary, that delivers HD maps, a consumer navigation app, an international automotive SDK, and ride-hailing aggregation to Chinese consumers, OEMs, and ride-hailing operators.

Company typePrivate
Founded2001
HeadquartersHaidian, China
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2B and B2C
OfferingSoftware

What AutoNavi does

AutoNavi (branded as Amap, especially outside Mainland China) is a Chinese digital map content and navigation provider founded in 2001 and currently operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding. The company's core offering is a unified navigation and location-based services platform that combines a consumer-facing mobile app (distributed across iOS, Android, HarmonyOS, and Google Play), an international automotive AutoSDK for OEM in-car navigation, and an HD map data business serving Chinese automakers for ADAS-equipped and autonomous-driving vehicles.

The underlying technology stack centers on a multi-modal geospatial platform that aggregates real-time traffic intelligence from a network of more than 1.8 million professional traffic cameras, processes structured location, traffic, and transportation data, and applies optimization, predictive analytics, and computer-vision capabilities to power route recommendation, incident detection, mixed-mode transit planning, and POI recommendations. The international version of the AutoSDK extends the platform to 170+ countries with support for 19 languages, positioning AutoNavi as a Google Maps alternative for Chinese OEMs exporting vehicles abroad.

AutoNavi monetizes across at least four streams: in-app advertising and local-services listings on the free consumer app, transaction and take-rate fees from ride-hailing and ride-sharing aggregation, HD map data licensing to Chinese automotive OEMs (where it leads with 51.1% China share in 2025 per Gasgoo), and AutoSDK/in-car navigation licensing to Chinese automakers expanding internationally. The company also operates an Amap ride-hailing platform that aggregates car-hailing providers and, as of November 2025, Level 4 robotaxi services in partnership with Xpeng Motors, with stated intent to expand that offering internationally.

AutoNavi firmographics

Firmographics

Name: AutoNavi
Legal name: AutoNavi
Website: https://mobile.amap.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2001
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Short description: AutoNavi (Amap) is a Chinese digital map and navigation provider, operating as an Alibaba subsidiary, that delivers HD maps, a consumer navigation app, an international automotive SDK, and ride-hailing aggregation to Chinese consumers, OEMs, and ride-hailing operators.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

AutoNavi industry classification

Industry

Product category: Digital Maps and Navigation
akta.pro primary industry: HD Maps & Localization for Autonomous/ADAS (BPAMANAL)
akta.pro secondary industries: Autonomous Driving & ADAS Perception (HDAAAEAI), Video Telematics, ADAS & AI Dashcams (TLAEAFAG)

Keywords

Digital map content
Navigation solutions
HD mapping
Ride-hailing platform
Automotive SDK

Where AutoNavi is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Haidian
HQ country: China
HQ region: Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

AutoNavi business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B and B2C
Offering type: Software
Cost components: Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Advertising (in-app, local services): The Amap app surfaces local information services (explore nearby, dining, lodging, entertainment, multi-source reviews and price comparison) which generate ad and merchant listing revenue from a large consumer user base.
Ride-hailing and ride-sharing platform commissions: Amap operates a car-hailing and ride-sharing marketplace connecting riders with multiple vehicle providers (in Mainland China and expanding internationally), taking a take-rate / transaction commission on each ride booked through the app.
Transaction / booking fees on mobility services: Amap aggregates car-hailing requests (multiple vehicle options, simultaneous dispatch) and ride-sharing, generating transaction-based fees per completed booking.
HD map licensing to automotive OEMs: AutoNavi licenses its HD map data to OEMs for use in ADAS-equipped and autonomous-driving vehicles, with 51.1% share of the China HD map market in 2025 (52.1% Jan-Nov 2025; 44% Jan 2026), implying recurring/per-unit licensing revenue tied to vehicle production.
AutoSDK and in-car navigation licensing (international): AutoNavi sells an international AutoSDK to Chinese automakers expanding abroad for in-car navigation, covering 170+ countries and 19 languages — a B2B SDK/embedded licensing revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	Pay-as-you-go	Consumer app — free download with in-app advertising and ride-hailing transactions
Other	Multi-year contract	AutoSDK and HD map licensing — quote-based, not publicly disclosed

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

AutoNavi product offering

Product offering

Core offering

AutoNavi (branded Amap) builds and operates a multi-modal geospatial platform combining HD maps for autonomous driving, real-time traffic intelligence, consumer navigation, and ride-hailing aggregation. It sells an international AutoSDK to automotive OEMs for in-car navigation, and licenses HD map data to Chinese automakers for ADAS-equipped vehicles. Its consumer Amap app provides navigation, ride-hailing, public transit, bike routing, and local information services.

Product overview

AutoNavi (branded as "Amap" internationally) operates a unified navigation and location-based services platform spanning consumer mobile apps, B2B HD map products, and embedded automotive SDKs. The consumer-facing Amap platform is the core product, organized into four primary modules: Navigation (with real-time traffic updates, best route recommendations, and 180W+ traffic cameras), Ridesharing (Car-hailing and Ride Sharing), Transportation (Real-time Bus, Shared Bike, Electric-bike, and Mixed-route Planning), and Information Services (Explore Nearby, Live Data, Integrated Data Sources, and Search Other Locations). The platform is available across iOS, Android, HarmonyOS, and Google Play. Underpinning the consumer platform is AutoNavi's B2B HD Map business, in which the company leads China's market with 44-52% share, and the AutoSDK, an international version of which covers 170+ countries and 19 languages, enabling Chinese carmakers to embed AutoNavi's navigation in their in-car systems. The product portfolio also extends to robotaxi enablement via the Xpeng partnership running on Amap, and competes directly with Google Maps for global navigation share.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Amap Navigation
Amap Car-hailing
Amap Ride Sharing
Amap Transportation Services
Amap Information Services
AutoNavi AutoSDK (International Version)
AutoNavi HD Maps

Quantifiable outcome

51.1% share of China's HD map market in 2025 (full-year)
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use AutoNavi

Customer profile

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

AutoNavi technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: Yes
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature8 records

AutoNavi partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

Xpeng MotorsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Amap is partnering with Xpeng Motors to deploy Level 4 robotaxi services on China's largest ride-hailing platform, with plans to expand internationally. The collaboration aims to advance artificial general intelligence in autonomous driving and globalize China's robotaxi technology.
XpengflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Xpeng's robotaxi service (powered by Xpeng's proprietary Turing AI chips and safety redundancies) will operate on Alibaba's Amap platform, with a planned 2026 launch of robotaxi, humanoid robot, and flying car products.
Chinese automotive OEMs (exporting automakers)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 4 November 2025AutoNavi distributes its international AutoSDK to Chinese carmakers expanding abroad to support in-car navigation systems for foreign markets, covering 170+ countries and 19 languages, positioning AutoNavi as a Google Maps alternative amid increasing Chinese vehicle exports.
Chinese automotive OEMs (ADAS customers)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAutoNavi supplies HD map data to multiple Chinese automotive OEMs for ADAS-equipped and intelligent vehicles, holding 51.1% of the China HD map market in 2025 and leading the segment.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

AutoNavi competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

HERE Technologies: HERE is a global incumbent in HD maps and location platform services for automotive OEMs. It competes with AutoNavi's AutoSDK for OEM navigation contracts in international markets where Chinese automakers are exporting vehicles.
TomTom: TomTom supplies maps, navigation software and traffic services to global OEMs. Like HERE, it competes with AutoNavi's AutoSDK for in-car navigation stack design wins on vehicles sold outside China.
Google Maps: Google Maps is the dominant global consumer navigation app and the incumbent AutoNavi is positioning its AutoSDK against for OEM in-car navigation. It sets the global benchmark for navigation data quality and developer ecosystem.

Emerging players

Mapbox: Mapbox provides a developer-centric mapping and navigation platform used in consumer apps and embedded automotive experiences. It competes with AutoNavi for OEM infotainment and app-builder customers globally.
Baidu Apollo Go: Baidu's Apollo Go is a leading robotaxi service in China. It competes with AutoNavi's Xpeng-powered robotaxi initiative for robotaxi market share and municipal operating permits.

Direct peers

DiDi Chuxing: DiDi is China's largest ride-hailing platform by historical market share and directly competes with Amap's ride-hailing aggregation business. Both also have ambitions in autonomous mobility via affiliated AV programs.
NavInfo: NavInfo is a leading Chinese HD map and dynamic map provider that competes with AutoNavi for ADAS and autonomous-driving map design wins at Chinese OEMs, and is the most cited alternative supplier in China.
Huawei (Petal Maps): Huawei's Petal Maps is a direct competitor in both consumer navigation and embedded in-car navigation, and is one of the credible challengers cited in the declining-trend context for AutoNavi's HD map share in China.
Tencent Maps: Tencent's mapping and location services compete directly with Amap in Chinese consumer navigation and local services, leveraging WeChat distribution. Both vie for the same Chinese consumer and OEM mindshare.
Baidu Maps: Baidu's mapping and navigation app is the most direct competitor to Amap inside China. Both offer consumer navigation, ride-hailing aggregation, and HD maps for ADAS, and compete head-to-head for Chinese OEM HD map design wins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

AutoNavi financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

AutoNavi leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

AutoNavi funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors7 records

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

AutoNavi M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AutoNavi

What does AutoNavi do?

Is AutoNavi a public or private company?

AutoNavi is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.

When was AutoNavi founded?

AutoNavi was founded in 2001. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is AutoNavi based?

AutoNavi is headquartered in Haidian, China, in the Asia region.

How does AutoNavi make money?

Five revenue lines are on record. Advertising (in-app, local services) is the primary driver. The others are ride-hailing and ride-sharing platform commissions, transaction / booking fees on mobility services, HD map licensing to automotive OEMs and autoSDK and in-car navigation licensing (international).

Who are AutoNavi's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are HERE Technologies, TomTom and Google Maps. Emerging players are Mapbox and Baidu Apollo Go. Direct peers are DiDi Chuxing, NavInfo, Huawei (Petal Maps), Tencent Maps and Baidu Maps.

Does AutoNavi have an API?

Yes. AutoNavi offers AutoSDK, an SDK that supports Chinese carmakers in developing in-car navigation systems. The international version of the AutoSDK covers over 170 countries and supports 19 languages, enabling car OEMs to embed AutoNavi's navigation capabilities into in-vehicle infotainment systems for foreign markets.

What industry is AutoNavi in?

AutoNavi's product category is Digital Maps and Navigation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAL, HD Maps & Localization for Autonomous/ADAS, with a secondary code of HDAAAEAI, Autonomous Driving & ADAS Perception.