Google threat may drive Mercedes, BMW and Audi to buy HERE

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have forged a rare partnership and are joining forces to acquire Nokia's HERE mapping business, insiders suggest, hoping to cut reliance on Google. Rumors that HERE - which includes 3D mapping of road data, along with high-resolution scanning suitable for the next generation of self-driving cars - was up for sale broke in April, with potential …