Hitachi Rail completes takeover of ITS provider Clever Devices, expanding beyond rail and strengthening its position in North America

Hitachi Rail has completed the acquisition of U.S.-based Intelligent Transportation Systems provider Clever Devices, expanding its multimodal digital mobility portfolio and strengthening its North American presence.

Hitachi Rail announced on 1 July the completion of its acquisition of Clever Devices, bringing the intelligent transportation technology provider into the Hitachi Group. The transaction broadens Hitachi Rail’s activities beyond the rail sector by integrating Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies for public transport operators into its digital mobility offering. According to the company, the acquisition also reinforces its position in North America and adds a business expected to generate more than $220 million in revenue during 2026.

As part of the take over, Frank Antonysamy has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Clever Devices, having most recently served as Chief Growth Officer at Hitachi Digital, where he led the launch of Hitachi’s Industrial AI portfolio.

Clever Devices joins Hitachi Rail

Headquartered in the United States, Clever Devices develops Intelligent Transportation Systems for transit agencies worldwide. The company provides technologies focused on fleet management, passenger information and operational performance, with solutions deployed across bus and rail networks. It operates offices in the United States, Europe and South America.

The company employs more than 600 people and serves a customer base that includes eight of the ten largest public transport agencies in North America. Beyond its established position in the U.S. market, Clever Devices has expanded its activities in Brazil, Chile and several European countries, including Italy (where transport software specialist M.A.I.O.R. was acquired by Clever Devices in 2017: it develops scheduling, planning and operational management software for public transport operators). According to Hitachi Rail, the company’s ITS technologies support fleet operations by improving service information accuracy and operational punctuality.

The acquisition extends Hitachi Rail’s activities into multimodal public transport while adding digital capabilities covering both onboard and centralized operational data. The announcement was made by Hitachi Rail.

HMAX Mobility suite expands beyond rail

Following completion of the transaction, Clever Devices’ portfolio will be integrated into Hitachi Rail’s HMAX Mobility suite. According to the company, the addition expands HMAX Mobility with artificial intelligence capabilities covering multimodal transportation networks.

In brief

• What has Hitachi Rail acquired? Hitachi Rail has completed the acquisition of Intelligent Transportation Systems provider Clever Devices.
• Where is Clever Devices active? The company operates in the United States, Europe and South America, with deployments across bus and rail networks.
• What does the acquisition add to Hitachi Rail? It adds Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies to the HMAX Mobility platform and expands Hitachi Rail’s multimodal transport portfolio.
• What is HMAX for Rail? It is Hitachi Rail’s digital asset management platform that creates an operational twin of railway systems using connected asset data, AI and edge computing.

HMAX for Rail, part of the HMAX Mobility portfolio, is Hitachi Rail’s digital asset management platform for railway operations. The platform connects data from rolling stock, signalling assets and infrastructure to create an operational digital twin of rail systems. It combines sensors, artificial intelligence, edge computing and railway-specific technologies to support asset management, operational performance and maintenance activities.

The addition of Clever Devices extends the HMAX Mobility offering by incorporating Intelligent Transportation Systems designed for bus and multimodal public transport operations alongside the existing rail-focused digital asset management platform.

At the end of the announcement, Hitachi Rail stated that the acquisition reflects growing demand for integrated transportation systems and extends the company’s digital mobility capabilities across multiple transport modes.

Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO, Hitachi Rail, said: ​“This is a key step in advancing our strategy to drive the digital transformation of public transport. We are combining Clever Devices’ strong capabilities in intelligent transportation systems with our global reach and HMAX Mobility suite of solutions. With this acquisition, we are broadening our scope beyond rail, strengthening our footprint in North America, and laying the platform to help cities develop more integrated, sustainable and efficient transportation networks.”

Frank Antonysamy, CEO, Clever Devices, said: ​“Joining Clever Devices at this important moment is a great opportunity. As part of Hitachi Rail, we are well positioned to leverage Hitachi’s investments in HMAX and more than 115 years of OT expertise, to accelerate innovation, expand our global reach and deliver enhanced value to transit agencies and passengers through our advanced digital mobility solutions”