| Foundation | 2001 (age 25) |
|---|---|
| Location | Beijing |
| Key people | Liu Zhenfei (Chairman) Guo Ning (CEO)[1] |
| Industry | |
| Products | Electronic map |
| Revenue | RMB 80,000,000 |
| Num employees | 2,000s (2010) |
| Parent | Alibaba Group |
| Defunct | 11 April 2014 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Homepage | www.autonavi.com |
AutoNavi Software Co., Ltd. (traditional Chinese: 高德軟件有限公司; simplified Chinese: 高德软件有限公司; pinyin: Gāodé Ruǎnjiàn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī) is a Chinese web mapping, navigation and location-based services provider, founded in 2001. One of its subsidiary companies, Beijing Mapabc Co. Ltd. [2] (www.mapabc.com), is a map website in China.[3] AutoNavi was acquired by Alibaba Group in 2014.[4] It offers its map services at Amap.com and as the Amap mobile app. It is known as Gaode in Chinese.
AutoNavi provides mapping data of China and Taiwan for Apple Maps, which was introduced with iOS 6.[5] Previously this was the only method of viewing their map in English, and was only available when the Apple device was located within China. The app is available in English, traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese.
AutoNavi previously provided mapping data to Google from 2006,[6] although this has not been updated for some years.
History
The company was founded in 2002 by Jun Hou, Congwu Cheng and Jun Xiao "to develop digital map data for in-dash navigation systems in automobiles".[7]
In 2007, Amap launched their first in-house developed car navigation system.[7]
In 2021, Amap was integrated into Alibaba's Lifestyle Services division, which also includes food delivery service Ele.me.[7][1]
In March 2023, Amap claimed 150 million average daily active users.[7]
On 21 January 2025 the company launched an English version of their app for Android, iOS and HarmonyOS. This is China's first English map for overseas users.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Alibaba food delivery head steps down in latest exec reshuffle". Reuters
- ^ traditional Chinese: 北京圖盟科技有限公司; simplified Chinese: 北京图盟科技有限公司; pinyin: Běijīng Túméngkējì Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī
- ^ "zh:高德软件官方网站". Archived 2021-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
- ^ "Alibaba Acquires Chinese Mapping Giang Autonavi in $1.5bn Deal". 11 April 2014. Archived 22 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Apple Built Special Version of Maps for China". China Real Time Report. Wall Street Journal. September 26, 2012. Archived November 14, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- ^ Lee, Mark (5 July 2012). "Apple Shares Google China Map Partner in Win for Autonavi". Bloomberg News. Archived 2014-10-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
- ^ Utley, Alison Tudor Ackroyd, Elizabeth (2023-12-13). "Travel With Alibaba's Amap From Startup To Navigation Platform". Alizila. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "Gaode Maps launches China's first English map for overseas users". www.citynewsservice.cn. Retrieved 2025-05-02.