Nokia could sell HERE Maps to German car makers

Nokia is looking to sell its maps division (including HERE Maps), and, as reported back in April, quite a few important companies are interested in buying it. According to Bloomberg, Nokia is currently "leaning toward" closing a deal with a powerful group of German carmakers: Audi AG, BMW AG, and Daimler AG (owner of Mercedes-Benz). However, it's said that Nokia is not yet happy with the price the German carmakers are offering, that's why it's still accepting bids from other companies, hoping to receive about $4 billion for the maps business.

Apple is allegedly also interested in buying Nokia's maps division, and so is Microsoft (which already acquired Nokia's devices and services unit), though it's said that Microsoft might only want to buy a "minority stake."

Bloomberg reports that "final bids are due this week", so it shouldn't be long before we find out the future owner of HERE Maps. That is, of course, if Nokia will indeed sell the maps business, because the company could still reject all bids - or at least that's what Bloomberg's sources are saying.

source: Bloomberg