LIPPSTADT, Germany - HELLA KGaA Hueck & Co. acquired a 50 percent interest in InnoSenT GmbH, an expert in radar sensors, based in Donnersdorf, Bavaria. The move is designed to strengthen HELLA's position as a supplier of automotive radar sensors. InnoSenT has more than 13 years of experience in the development and production of radar technology with automotive and industrial applications.

InnoSenT's product range includes components for front-and-rear automotive radar systems, as well as industrial applications for traffic monitoring. The two companies initially will focus on the development and manufacture of radar sensors for HELLA's global customer network. HELLA's 24 GHz radar sensors are used in a variety of driver-assistance technologies, including lane-change warning systems.

Christian Amsel, a member of HELLA's Electronics Division's executive board, noted the increasing importance of radar sensors in the automotive industry. "The rising number of vehicles requires new means for monitoring traffic areas. Radar-based driving-assistance systems, including lane-change and blind-spot assistance, improve traffic safety. Safety issues in emerging markets are becoming increasingly important. HELLA provides 24 GHz radar technology, which is significantly more affordable than camera systems or 77 GHz radar systems."

Wolfgang Weidmann and Robert Mock, both founders and shareholders of InnoSenT, noted that, "HELLA will provide InnoSenT with the opportunity to establish a strong foothold in driver assistance technologies for the automotive industry. Now, new technologies and applications can be brought to the market at a much faster rate. Furthermore, we see the synergies that result between automotive technology and industrial applications as a core growth philosophy for the relatively new radar sensor market. The autonomy of the companies in this agreement is an important factor in sustaining innovative opportunities."