Which lane goes faster? That is the question every driver would like to know when on a congested highway. Digital map and real-time traffic vendor HERE has introduced yesterday a new technology that gives a significant part of the answer to that question.

Inrix, a startup out of Washington that provides real-time traffic and other data to car companies like BMW and Tesla, tech companies like Samsung and Google, and 400 other enterprises, has made an acquisition to expand the features that it offers to its users. It has bought ParkMe, a startup out of Santa Monica that offers “smart parking” services to users, including finding and reserving parking spaces and paying for them by mobile.

Nokia’s map platform HERE has impressed ever since it was first released. Now, it’s impressed enough for a motoring consortium made up of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes to buy it for $3 billion.

The purchase will see three German auto makers — BMW, Audi, and, strictly speaking, Mercedes’ parent company Daimler — jointly purchase the mapping service. The Wall Street Journal predicted the purchase two weeks ago, and at the time also suggested that the trio would also be looking for other manufacturers to invest in the new business.