What Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH does

Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH is a German automotive connectivity specialist founded in 1924 and headquartered in Neckartenzlingen, Baden-Württemberg. The company designs and manufactures radio-frequency (RF) hardware for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, with a product portfolio that spans conventional vehicle antennas, integrated antenna systems, tuners, infotainment modules, GNSS/GPS components, and telematics hardware. Customers are primarily automotive OEMs and tier-one suppliers into which Hirschmann's components are designed as part of vehicle electrical architectures.

The company's technical base is anchored by roughly 130 specialized RF engineers and a patent estate accumulated across nearly a century of RF design work. The current product roadmap reflects three structural shifts in vehicle connectivity: compliance with the EU's Smart Tachograph 2 (Gen2V2) mandate for commercial vehicles, the introduction of 5G MIMO and V2X-capable antenna modules for connected and autonomous vehicle platforms, and a move toward standardized off-the-shelf (OTS) modules — exemplified by the RTM product line and a Standard Product Catalog 2025 — that sit alongside custom OEM design wins.

Hirschmann operates as a tier-one automotive supplier, generating revenue through unit sales of antennas and modules embedded in vehicle production, supplemented by aftermarket and catalog-style distribution. In October 2023 the company was acquired by Taiwan-listed Universal Scientific Industrial (USI), integrating Hirschmann into USI's broader connectivity and electronics-manufacturing-services portfolio alongside sister company Asteelflash. The combination gives Hirschmann access to USI's global manufacturing footprint while positioning USI more deeply in European automotive RF.

Name

Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH

Legal name

Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH

Website

http://www.hirschmann-car.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH is a German automotive RF specialist founded in 1924, designing antennas, tuners, telematics modules, and infotainment hardware for OEMs and tier-one suppliers. Acquired by USI in 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Antennas & Connectivity Electronics

NAICS

Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220)

SIC

Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Infotainment, Telematics & Connectivity Hardware Manufacturing (TCU/V2X/GNSS) (IMACAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Truck Telematics, ADAS & Fleet Electronics Manufacturing (IMACABAM)

Keywords

• Automotive antenna systems
• Vehicle infotainment tuners
• M2M telematics hardware
• RF connectivity components
• GNSS vehicle antennas

Headquarters

HQ city

Neckartenzlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Antenna Systems: Customized and standard antenna systems for automotive and commercial vehicles covering all frequency ranges including broadcast, satellite, mobile data, GNSS, Wi-Fi/BT, V2X, RKE, UWB, ISM, Tetra, CB, and PMR.
2. Infotainment & Tuner Systems: Tuner systems enabling vehicles to receive live radio, TV, music and videos via DVB-T/T2, LTE/5G or WLAN. Includes Remote Tuner Module as both custom and off-the-shelf products.
3. M2M & Telematics Solutions: Data transmission solutions for fleet management, remote maintenance, and IoT applications in transportation and logistics industries. Includes standard products and customizable options.
4. Smart Devices: Smart antenna devices and integrated antenna systems for emerging applications including V2X, ADAS, FOTA, diagnostics, and real-time maps supporting 5G MIMO, GNSS, SDARS, WLAN/BTLE, RKE and V2X.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH designs, develops, and manufactures RF-based mobile transmission and reception hardware for vehicles. Its portfolio covers customized and standard antenna systems, infotainment and tuner systems (including the Remote Tuner Module), smart antenna devices with integrated electronics, and M2M/telematics solutions. Products are sold to automotive OEMs, commercial vehicle manufacturers, transportation and logistics operators, and M2M/IoT customers, with manufacturing in Germany and Hungary.

Product overview

Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH offers a comprehensive portfolio of mobile transmission and reception solutions for vehicles, consisting of five core product lines: Antenna Systems (customized and standard antennas for radio, TV, and mobile data), Infotainment & Tuner Systems (including the Remote Tuner Module), Smart Devices (integrated antenna systems for V2X, ADAS, FOTA, and diagnostics), and M2M & Telematics Solutions. Their flagship innovation is the Remote Tuner Module (RTM), which represents a new radio tuner architecture that moves reception functions closer to the antennas. The company also offers a Standard Product Catalog featuring antennas for broadcast, satellite, mobile data, GNSS, Wi-Fi/BT, V2X, RKE, UWB, ISM, Tetra, CB, and PMR applications. Products serve the Automotive, Commercial Vehicle, Transportation, and M2M & Telematics markets. Since October 2023, the company operates independently as part of USI while maintaining its own manufacturing facilities in Germany (Neckartenzlingen) and Hungary (Békéscsaba).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Remote Tuner Module (RTM) A radio tuner architecture for in-vehicle infotainment systems that moves radio reception functions close to the antennas, optimizing overall system cost and material consumption by eliminating antenna amplifiers and reducing coaxial cable needs. Available as both custom development and Off-the-Shelf (OTS) product for automotive OEMs.
• Antenna Systems Customized developments or standard products for seamless in-vehicle connectivity, delivering excellent reception for radio, TV, and mobile data across all relevant frequency ranges. Designed for automotive and transportation OEMs, aftermarket, and M2M markets.
• Infotainment & Tuner Systems Systems enabling vehicles to receive live radio, TV, music, and videos via DVB-T/T-2 or streamed through LTE/5G or WLAN. Includes tuner systems for excellent reception of AM/FM, DAB, DVB-T, DVB-T2 broadcast services and mobile digital TV stations.
• Smart Devices Smart antenna and integrated antenna systems designed for emerging applications such as V2X, ADAS, FOTA, diagnostics, and real-time maps. Combines antenna and electronics to deliver excellent performance while saving space. Supported services include 5G MIMO, GNSS, SDARS, WLAN/BTLE, RKE and V2X.
• M2M & Telematics Solutions Comprehensive portfolio of M2M and Telematics solutions available in various designs, including both standard products and customizable options. Delivers robust antenna systems and complete data exchange solutions for M2M/IoT and Transportation and Logistics industries.
• GNSS 9M Antenna GNSS antenna available as adhesive or screw-mounted version, supporting Smart Tachograph 2 requirements for trucks and buses over 3.5 tons in the EU.
• GNSS 11 S Antenna GNSS antenna available as adhesive or screw-mounted version, supporting Smart Tachograph 2 requirements for trucks and buses over 3.5 tons in the EU.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost optimization through RTM architecture eliminating antenna amplifiers and reducing coaxial cables
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USI (Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Since October 2023, Hirschmann Car Communication has been part of USI, a global technology leader. Operating independently on the market, they benefit from USI's vast network of manufacturing facilities across Europe, Asia, Americas, and North Africa. Together they provide end-to-end product development and production services.
• AsteelflashcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within the USI group. Together with parent company USI and Asteelflash, Hirschmann provides complete product development and production process with local-for-local approach and competitive conditions.
• Strategic Partners in North AmericaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnerships in North America as part of global production concept.
• Strategic Partners in ChinaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnerships in China as part of global production concept.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ficosa International: Spanish Tier 1 supplier specializing in automotive antennas, connectivity, and rear-view systems. Closest niche competitor to Hirschmann in vehicle antenna systems with similar customer base among European and global OEMs.
• Continental AG: Major Tier 1 automotive supplier with an extensive antenna, connectivity, telematics, and infotainment portfolio (including the former Kathrein Automotive business). Directly competes with Hirschmann in vehicle RF/antenna systems and has broader scale across OEMs.
• Laird Connectivity (Molex): Provider of antennas, RF modules, and connectivity solutions for industrial, IoT, and automotive applications. Competes with Hirschmann's M2M/telematics and antenna product lines, particularly in vehicle and fleet telematics.

Broad incumbents

• Aptiv PLC: Tier 1 automotive technology company with signal and power solutions, infotainment, and ADAS. Competes across multiple vehicle electronics domains including connectivity where Hirschmann plays.
• Amphenol: Global manufacturer of interconnect, antenna, and sensor solutions serving automotive and commercial vehicle markets. Overlaps with Hirschmann's RF/antenna and connectivity hardware product categories at OEM and Tier 1 customers.
• TE Connectivity: Global supplier of automotive connectivity and antenna solutions including RF, coaxial, and high-speed data products. Competes with Hirschmann in automotive antenna and connectivity hardware, with broader portfolio and larger scale.
• Forvia (Hella): Major Tier 1 automotive supplier (including Hella) with electronics and lighting portfolios that intersect with vehicle antennas, connectivity, and commercial vehicle electronics relevant to Hirschmann's commercial-vehicle focus.
• Vitesco Technologies: Tier 1 powertrain and electronics supplier with growing connectivity and electrification portfolios. Competes for OEM electronics sockets in commercial and passenger vehicles where antenna and telematics are bundled.
• Harman International (Samsung): Leading supplier of connected car infotainment, telematics, and audio systems. Overlaps with Hirschmann's infotainment/tuner and telematics offerings but operates as a much broader incumbent serving premium and mass-market OEMs globally.

Emerging players

• u-blox: Swiss supplier of GNSS positioning modules and wireless connectivity chips widely used in automotive telematics, fleet management, and Smart Tacho-style applications. Competes with Hirschmann's GNSS antenna and telematics offerings at the component level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1011518

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH