A major step toward smart, data-driven, and multimodal urban mobility solutions worldwide
New York, United States, 8 April 2026 – Hitachi Rail has announced a significant move to strengthen its position in the global smart mobility space by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Clever Devices, a U.S.-based leader in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). This strategic acquisition signals Hitachi Rail’s ambition to go beyond traditional rail services and become a key player in digital, multimodal transportation.
Clever Devices, headquartered in Woodbury, New York, is widely recognized for its advanced solutions that improve fleet management, passenger experience, and operational efficiency. With offices across the United States, Europe, and South America, the company serves major transit agencies worldwide, including eight of the ten largest in North America.
The acquisition is expected to bring together strong digital expertise and innovation. Clever Devices is projected to generate over $220 million in revenue by 2026 and employs more than 600 people globally. Its Intelligent Transportation Systems play a vital role in making public transport more reliable, efficient, and user-friendly by enhancing real-time information accuracy and service punctuality.
By integrating Clever Devices’ capabilities with its own HMAX Mobility platform, Hitachi Rail aims to deliver more advanced, data-driven solutions. HMAX Mobility is a digital asset management system that uses AI, sensors, and real-time data to monitor and optimize railway operations. With this acquisition, the platform will expand beyond rail to include buses and other modes of transport, enabling seamless multimodal mobility.
This move also strengthens Hitachi Rail’s footprint in North America, a key growth market. Recent investments, including a $110 million digital factory in Maryland and a $30 million Canadian headquarters, highlight the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region.
The combined technologies are expected to support cities in their digital transformation journey, offering smarter transport systems that reduce congestion, improve energy efficiency, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. By linking fleet management systems with operation control centers, the partnership will enable real-time coordination across different transport modes, making urban travel more connected and efficient.
Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail, described the acquisition as a milestone in accelerating digital mobility. He emphasized that combining global scale with intelligent transportation technology will help cities build smarter, more sustainable transit networks.
The agreement is part of the broader One Hitachi initiative, which focuses on collaboration across Hitachi Group companies such as Hitachi Digital, GlobalLogic, and Hitachi Digital Services. Together, they aim to drive innovation in smart mobility, digital transformation, and sustainable infrastructure.
The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
