Delivered on May 25, 2026
TomTom's vision for a map and transportation data platform in the AI era
Speakers:
Noriaki Ishibashi, Senior Account Manager, TomTom Sales B.V.
Atsushi Nagao, Project Manager
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
We welcomed Mr. Ishibashi and Mr. Nagao from TomTom Japan to discuss their map data, navigation, and real-time traffic information services. They introduced their globally deployed map database, traffic information updated every 30 seconds to 1 minute, and analytical services utilizing historical data, as well as their efforts in collaborating with GeoParquet and MCP to adapt to the AI era. They also discussed their future prospects for utilizing location data as social infrastructure, extending beyond the automotive sector.
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TomTom's History and Global Presence
Founded in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1991, TomTom is a company with over 30 years of history. Initially starting with the development of navigation software and devices, it now leverages that expertise to offer a range of products based on map data, traffic information, and location information in over 20 countries worldwide.
The company's strength lies in its vast map database covering 235 countries and regions. It covers almost all areas where cars can travel, and the data is continuously updated flexibly to reflect changes in global conditions. Furthermore, beyond simply providing maps, it also offers advanced analytical services utilizing probe data collected from devices, attracting a wide range of customers including automotive manufacturers, government agencies, and consulting firms worldwide.
Three Key Product Groups Supporting the Location Information Business
TomTom's business is broadly composed of three pillars.
The first is its core navigation system, which has been its focus since its founding. Currently, its main focus is on providing embedded systems and map data for automotive manufacturers (OEMs).
The second is its globally deployed map database. For companies operating globally, high-precision map data provided in a unified format across countries is an essential foundation for service development.
The third is a traffic information service processed using a unique process. Location data obtained from vehicles and devices worldwide is collected and processed in extremely short spans of 30 seconds to 1 minute, and provided as real-time traffic information. This data is not only used to understand current congestion but also widely utilized as accumulated historical data for traffic volume analysis and urban planning consulting.
Provision of Real-Time Traffic Data and its Role as a Platform
Because the freshness of the data is crucial, the traffic information provided by TomTom is primarily delivered in the form of APIs and SaaS. This allows users to always incorporate the latest information into their systems. Furthermore, the database itself is also provided, offering a flexible delivery format tailored to customer needs and applications.
Regarding the differences from competitors, such as Google, Mr. Nagao emphasizes that "TomTom is a company that provides databases." While other companies act as platform providers, TomTom provides high-quality data itself, sometimes supporting other companies' platforms, and sometimes being utilized as a database specialized for specific purposes. This neutrality and high level of expertise as a data "source" is what makes TomTom unique.
Evolution of Map Maintenance through the AI Revolution
In 2022, TomTom revamped its map data management and operation platform, transitioning to an AI-driven system. This enables efficient detection of road changes from vast amounts of location and image data, and their reflection on maps.
Currently, the global map database is updated weekly, and this high-frequency update is supported by AI-driven automation technology. The introduction of AI not only improves efficiency but also dramatically enhances data freshness, enabling the provision of more realistic information. Furthermore, in terms of data delivery format, it supports modern formats such as "GeoParquet," which is suitable for data science and cloud-native environments, increasing compatibility with AI tools.
Integration with AI Tools and Utilization of MCP
With the spread of AI, TomTom is advancing new initiatives to enable developers and data scientists to handle location data more intuitively. One such initiative is the release of "TomTom MCP (Model Context Protocol)."
This is a mechanism for easily integrating location information APIs with generative AI tools such as OpenAI's SDK and Anthropic's Claude. For example, it becomes possible to use this by requesting traffic analysis of a specific area from an AI using natural language, allowing the AI to retrieve data from TomTom's real-time API and generate an answer. Although there is a delay due to AI processing, the TomTom system itself maintains the performance to provide real-time data at 30-second intervals, strongly supporting the introduction of AI into business processes.
Outlook for the Japanese Market and Strengthening Partnerships
In the Japanese market, TomTom has so far focused on automotive-related businesses. However, going forward, we aim to collaborate with diverse players, including LBMA Japan member companies, to enable the use of our technology and products in fields other than automotive.
Specifically, this includes optimizing logistics, building smart cities, and providing high-precision data for the social implementation of autonomous driving technology. Furthermore, to make data within Japan more precise, they are also keen on bidirectional data collaboration, such as receiving location information and probe data from Japanese companies.
TomTom's future vision is to contribute to the further growth of the location-based business in Japan by combining global expertise with the latest AI technology.
Summary
This interview highlights TomTom's evolution from a mere map maker to a "data technology company" that leverages AI technology to capture global dynamics in real time.
The historical data accumulated over 30 years, live data updated every 30 seconds, and the platform that efficiently manages them with AI will be extremely important infrastructure in the future autonomous driving society and the increasingly digitally digitized business landscape.
In particular, support for the latest data formats and protocols such as GeoParquet and MCP will be a significant advantage for companies looking to utilize AI in their operations. In the Japanese market, too, new value creation from location data is expected through broad partnerships that extend beyond the automotive industry. Attention is focused on how TomTom's highly accurate global data will transform the location information business in Japan.