German auto makers agree deal to buy Nokia HERE - sources

Intelligent mapping systems are the basis on which self-driving cars linked to wireless networks can perform intelligent functions such as recalculating a route if data about a traffic jam or an accident is transmitted to the car.

In the future, such mapping systems will have a role to play in collision detection and other features of self-driving cars.

Autonomous and connected car services could become a USD 50 billion market, analysts at Exane BNP Paribas have estimated.

Nokia is shedding the maps business to help it focus on integrating its 15.6 billion-euro purchase of Alcatel Lucent, a deal that will create the world's second largest network equipment maker.

The Finnish company announced a strategic review of its navigation business in April, setting up an auction process that pitted Germany's premium automakers against Internet rivals from the United States and China, who have now pulled back.

Competitors included one bidding group involving US -based online taxi and ride-sharing service Uber with Chinese Internet company Baidu.

Another group brought together services firm Tencent Holdings and map maker Navinfo Co, sources said previously.

Daimler, BMW and Audi want to become service providers as a way to own customer relationships which may otherwise migrate to new transport businesses created by high-tech rivals such as Google or Apple.