Navigation Data Standard

What Navigation Data Standard does

Navigation Data Standard (NDS) is a non-profit association organized under German law (e.V.) that develops and maintains the worldwide standard for map data in automotive ecosystems. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Germany (administrative office in Gries, legal address c/o CARIAD SE in Wolfsburg), NDS counts 43 enterprise members including major OEMs (BMW Group, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, NIO, Toyota/Woven Planet, Renault, Volvo, Hyundai), map and service providers (HERE Technologies, TomTom, Zenrin, NavInfo, Mappls MapmyIndia), and tier-1 suppliers and technology companies (Bosch, Elektrobit, Harman, NVIDIA, NNG, ZF, Huawei, Tencent). The association serves in-vehicle navigation, ADAS, electronic horizon, autonomous driving, mobile companion apps, and connected-car cloud use cases.

The core technology comprises two specifications: NDS.Classic, the original binary map database format for embedded devices, and NDS.Live, the next-generation modular specification launched in 2020 designed for cloud-connected dynamic data with tile-based, path-based, and point-based delivery across car, 5G edge, and cloud usage scenarios. NDS.Live is organized around Modules (Localization, ADAS, Lane, Rules, Routing), Service Registries, and SmartLayers. Supporting tooling includes the open-source zserio serialization format (C++, Java, Python), a SQLite reference implementation, DatabaseInspector, MapViewer, a Python SDK, an NDS.Live <-> OpenDRIVE converter, and a GeoJSON Converter. A new NDS Expert AI Assistant (January 2026) provides conversational access to the specification.

NDS generates revenue exclusively through membership fees paid by car manufacturers, application/compiler developers, and map/service providers. The NDS.Live specification is openly accessible for free evaluation and development at developer.nds.live, but commercial use requires membership. The association operates with 51-100 employees, hosts an annual Public Conference and Tooling Days, and maintains a global geographic footprint across North America, EMEA, and APAC (China, South Korea, Japan). The organization owns shared IP and safeguards members from inter-member litigation on foreground IP.

Name

Navigation Data Standard

Legal name

Navigation Data Standard (NDS) e.V.

Website

https://nds-association.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Navigation Data Standard (NDS) is a German non-profit standards association, founded 2009, that maintains the worldwide map data format for automotive ecosystems. Its 43 enterprise members include major OEMs, map providers, and tier-1 suppliers using NDS and NDS.Live specifications for navigation, ADAS, and automated driving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Navigation and Map Data Standards

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

V2X Message & Data Exchange Platforms (SPaT/MAP, TIM, CAM/DENM Brokers) (TLAJAHAF)

Keywords

• Automotive map standards
• HD map data
• ADAS navigation data
• In-vehicle navigation format
• Autonomous driving maps

Headquarters

HQ city

Gries

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: NDS Association generates revenue through membership fees from car manufacturers, application/compiler developers, and map and service providers. Commercial use of NDS.Live specification is tied to membership in the NDS Association.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Navigation Data Standard (NDS) develops and maintains the worldwide binary map database standard for automotive ecosystems, including the original NDS specification and the next-generation NDS.Live modular, cloud-based specification. The association delivers testing, validation, and certification tools, developer SDKs, converters, and reference implementations that enable interoperability between different map providers, OEMs, and navigation systems for in-vehicle navigation, ADAS, e-horizon, automated driving, and connected car applications.

Product overview

Navigation Data Standard (NDS) is a worldwide map data standard for automotive eco-systems, offered as a platform comprising multiple specifications and tooling. The core products are NDS (the original binary map database format) and NDS.Live (the next-generation modular, cloud-based specification). NDS.Live is structured around Modules (semantic separation of map features), Service Registries (network service tracking), and SmartLayers (configurable data bundles). The product portfolio includes developer tools (Python SDK, DatabaseInspector, MapViewer), format converters (OpenDRIVE, GeoJSON), domain-specific modules (Localization, ADAS, Lane, Rules), and the freely accessible NDS.Live Evaluation Service. The ecosystem also includes an AI Assistant for conversational access to standards. NDS.Live supports tile-based, path-based, and point-based data delivery across static, dynamic, and live data layers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NDS.Live: The new generation of the worldwide standard for map data in automotive eco-systems. It supports ADAS, automated driving, and hybrid/online navigation with cloud-connected dynamic data, modular architecture, and tile-based data delivery.
• NDS Tooling

Products and services

• NDS Specification The original worldwide binary map database format for automotive ecosystems, defining the data model, storage format, interfaces, and protocols for storing map data used by in-vehicle navigation, ADAS, e-horizon safety systems, mobile companion apps, connected car cloud solutions, and autonomous driving.
• NDS.Live Specification Next-generation modular, cloud-based map data specification supporting tile-based, path-based, and point-based data delivery across static, dynamic, and live data layers. Features Modules (semantic separation of features), Service Registries (network service tracking), and SmartLayers (configurable data bundles) for ADAS, automated driving, and hybrid/online navigation.
• NDS.Live Python SDK Developer toolkit that enables standardized NDS.Live map development with a productive Python-based development environment, accessible via the NDS.Live Developer Portal.
• NDS.Live Evaluation Service Cloud-based evaluation service that enables more accessible, collaborative, and future-ready map data evaluation for teams onboarding to the NDS.Live standard.
• DatabaseInspector Tool for inspecting SQLite databases with special focus on Navigation Data Standard. Reveals content of optimized binary NDS blobs. Includes DBI-Shell, a headless variant for automated tool pipelines to analyze, transform, and export data.
• MapViewer (3D and Online) 3D visualization tool that visualizes NDS databases and allows inspection of individual features. MapViewer Online is a configurable Docker-based server for browser-based map inspection. Plugin-based architecture allows users to define their own extensions.
• zserio Open-source serialization format (originally RDS) used to describe the NDS format. Generates APIs in C++, Java, and Python target languages along with HTML documentation. Development continues on GitHub under the NDS organization.
• SQLite Reference Implementation Reference engine for accessing and modifying NDS databases using open-source SQLite, with added compression and encryption features for efficient and secure real-world usage.
• NDS.Live OpenDRIVE Converter Production-ready converter bridging simulation and automotive map data, enabling engineering teams to exchange map data between OpenDRIVE (XML) and NDS.Live formats.
• NDS.Live GeoJSON Converter Converter that bridges NDS.Live map data to the open-source GeoJSON geospatial ecosystem for seamless integration with existing geospatial tools.
• NDS Expert AI Assistant Conversational AI tool that accelerates NDS.Live map development by enabling developers to access navigation data standards and specifications through natural language interaction.
• NDS.Live Localization Module NDS.Live module providing different types of localization objects to support vehicle localization use cases, including cross-referencing of geo-referenced data for precise vehicle positioning.
• NDS.Live ADAS Module NDS.Live module supporting ADAS use cases by providing standardized map data layers for advanced driver assistance features.
• NDS.Live Lane Module NDS.Live module enabling modeling of complex intersections on tile borders and highways for automated driving, including lane-level data and road topology.
• NDS.Live Rules Module NDS.Live module supporting standardized representation of accurate speed limits and other regulatory attributes (e.g., for Intelligent Speed Assistance/ISA regulation compliance). Used by TomTom to deliver accurate speed limits for ADAS and automated driving.
• NDS.Live Smart Layer Service Supports developments in autonomous driving by enabling smart layer compositions of pre-published data layers configured per vehicle feature set.
• NDS.Live Operational Design Domain (ODD) Support NDS.Live specification feature supporting the Operational Design Domain (ODD) in automated driving systems, enabling ODD awareness for ADAS and automated driving.
• NDS.Live Developer Portal Access (Open Access) Free online access point to the NDS.Live specification and tools (Python SDK, GeoJSON Converter, Evaluation Service, MapViewer) for non-members, used for evaluation and development. Commercial use requires membership in the NDS Association.
• NDS Association Membership Membership in the NDS Association for car manufacturers, application/compiler developers, and map/service providers. Members gain access to NDS specification, working sessions, testing tools, validation, and certification services, and use NDS specification and technologies in their automotive projects.
• NDS Testing, Validation, and Certification Tools Member-only testing, validation, and certification tools that allow members to validate conformance of map data and software components with the NDS specification.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58 per cent name interoperability as the main advantage of using NDS (from user survey)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability4 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASAM (Association for Standardisation of Automation and Measuring Systems)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Collaboration between ASAM and NDS communities. Fabian Klebert presented at ASAM 2026, and Ottó Nyíró presented at ASAM China 2025 on data exchange between ASAM OpenDRIVE and NDS. Production-ready OpenDRIVE ↔ NDS.Live converter available.
• NVIDIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NVIDIA joined as a new member in January 2025, advancing autonomous driving and smart transportation through innovative technologies integrated with NDS standard.
• MQNICminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MQNIC joined as a new member in June 2025, advancing autonomous driving and smart transportation through innovative technologies.
• Goodyear SightLineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NDS.Live and Goodyear SightLine collaboration uses road characteristics and vehicle-specific conditions to improve navigation and driver assistance through the Vehicle Conditions feature.
• Open Auto Drive Forum (OADF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Discussion platform driving standardization in autonomous driving. NDS actively participates in OADF events and presentations. OADF workshops discuss key role of standards for ADAS and automated driving.
• IntelliMapLabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IntelliMapLab helps nurture the NDS community with young talent through educational and community engagement initiatives.
• AUTOSARcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2023NDS partners with AUTOSAR to use SOME/IP as the middleware for in-vehicle communications regarding NDS.Live. Fabian Klebert from NDS spoke at AUTOSAR Open Conference 2025 about zserio and open-source.
• ZFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ZF, automotive supplier, joined NDS Association in May 2023 to contribute to navigation data standards development.
• IntelliascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Intellias joined NDS Association in March 2023. Featured in Automobilwoche article on standardized data ensuring flexibility for automotive development.
• Woven PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Woven Planet uses NDS.Live with tile-based approach for map updates enabling faster developments in ADAS and navigation. Andrew Calkins explained how NDS.Live enables HD map product integration efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Dynamic Map PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Japanese company Dynamic Map Platform joined NDS Association in March 2022, relying on NDS for navigation excellence and future strength.
• ParkopediaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UK-based parking solutions provider Parkopedia joined NDS to drive globally standardized format for automotive-grade indoor navigation with reliable real-time data.
• NDS.Live Joint Development TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint development team including Elektrobit, HERE, JoyNext, NavInfo, and NNG to make NDS.Live ready for release. Harman and TomTom joined the team in June 2021 to accelerate advancement of the standard.
• MomentacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Automated driving and HD Maps focused company Momenta joined NDS Association in March 2021.
• SENSORIScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Global platform for standardization of in-vehicle sensor data and its efficient exchange. Supports integration with NDS map data for autonomous driving.
• TN-ITScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Connects road authorities and map providers. Road authorities provide information about traffic signs and regulations which flows into map data and eventually to vehicles via NDS.
• TISA (Travel and Traffic Information Services)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NDS partner providing quality travel and traffic information for drivers, integrated with NDS map format.
• ADASIS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Interface)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Open group defining an exchanging information protocol between map database and ADAS applications. The protocol is aligned to the NDS map format and adds to driving comfort, efficiency, and enhancing ADAS applications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Lanelet2: Open-source C++ library and map format for autonomous driving research, popular in robotics and academic ADAS prototypes. Emerging alternative to NDS.Live for lane-level HD map specification with stronger open-source tooling pedigree.

Broad incumbents

• AUTOSAR: Worldwide automotive software architecture standard with broad industry mandate. Direct partner of NDS, using SOME/IP as middleware for NDS.Live in-vehicle communications; broader scope but operating in the same automotive-standards domain.
• HERE Technologies: Dominant commercial HD map provider and founding NDS member whose HD Live Maps support Mercedes Drive Pilot Level 3 autonomy via NDS format. Operates as both NDS member/chairman stakeholder and a major commercial alternative to NDS-driven mapping.
• TomTom: Global map and navigation provider; major NDS member using NDS.Live Rules module for standardized speed limits and supplying NDS-based maps for Subaru, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, and VW. Commercial alternative/incumbent whose product strategy reinforces NDS standard adoption.

Direct peers

• Open Auto Drive Forum (OADF): Cross-industry forum driving standardization in autonomous driving. NDS is an active participating member; OADF workshops examine the role of map standards like NDS in ADAS and automated driving.
• ADASIS Forum: Open industry group defining the ADAS Interface Protocol (ADASIS) for exchanging information between map database and ADAS/automated driving applications. Direct peer and mutual partner of NDS, with the ADASIS protocol explicitly aligned to the NDS map format.
• TISA (Travel and Traffic Information Services): Industry association providing quality-controlled travel and traffic information. Direct partner of NDS, integrating TISA-compliant traffic content with NDS map format.
• ASAM (Association for Standardisation of Automation and Measuring Systems): Standards body that owns OpenDRIVE, the primary alternative road network format in automotive simulation. NDS and ASAM collaborate via a production-ready OpenDRIVE/NDS.Live converter, placing them in direct, complementary competition for road and HD map data formats.
• SENSORIS: Innovation platform for global standardization of in-vehicle sensor data exchange. Direct mutual partner of NDS, supporting integration between sensor data and NDS map data for autonomous driving use cases.
• TN-ITS: European standards initiative connecting road authorities with map providers for traffic sign and regulation data exchange. Direct peer/partner of NDS, contributing attribution data that flows into NDS-equipped vehicles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/navigation-data-standard-e-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Navigation Data Standard