Blackberry sells German research division to Volkswagen

BlackBerry sells its German research division to Volkswagen. All 200 employees will be transferred to the new owner. The department in Bochum will make software for entertainment systems for Volkswagen cars.

Both companies will not disclose what Volkswagen will pay for the acquisition, Phys.org writes. The research department will join Volkswagen Infotainment, which is responsible for the software of the entertainment systems in cars.

The takeover seems logical: BlackBerry 10 is based on the QNX kernel, which, before the smartphone maker took over the company behind QNX, was also involved in software for, among other things, cars. BlackBerry will now move all QNX-related development closer to its headquarters in Canada. With the move, BlackBerry wants to improve its financial position.