It's no surprise that automakers are continually outpaced by the tech industry. Automotive companies plan, design, and build cars on a several-year time frame -- which is a lifetime in the tech world. The proliferation of smartphone navigation -- driven by Google (GOOG -0.19%) (GOOGL -0.17%) Maps -- has taken in-car navigation out of the hands of car companies and given all the control to the tech industry. 
 
And that's got carmakers worried. As semi-autonomous and autonomous cars become the norm, automakers want to ensure that they don't lose control over how their vehicles move around. That's why, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, a group of automakers is looking to buy Nokia's (NOK 0.24%) HERE maps business. Click through the slideshow below to find out more about the car companies' plans.