Cubic
Thai food brand
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Cubic Corporation is an American multinational technology and engineering company whose activities span public transportation, intelligent mobility, defense electronics, secure communications, military training, and intelligence-support systems. It was established in San Diego in 1949 by Walter J. Zable and began operating in 1951. Zable initially built the business as an electronics manufacturer, with an early product being a calorimetric wattmeter used to measure microwave output. The name Cubic was selected to suggest engineering precision and technical discipline. The company became publicly traded in the 1950s and expanded beyond its original electronics focus through acquisitions and the development of specialized technologies. Its 1969 purchase of United States Elevator Corporation added an industrial equipment business, while later growth increasingly centered on transportation technology and defense-related systems. Cubic's modern operating structure is organized around two principal areas: Cubic Transportation Systems and Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions. Cubic Transportation Systems, commonly known as CTS, designs and operates automated fare collection and mobility systems for transit agencies, transport authorities, and road operators. Its offerings include ticket vending machines, fare gates, smart-card readers, mobile ticketing, account-based payment platforms, revenue-management back offices, customer-support services, real-time passenger information, traffic-management tools, tolling systems, predictive analytics, and operational IT support. Its technology has been used in major transport programs including London Oyster, New York's OMNY, Chicago's Ventra, Brisbane's go card, and other systems across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. CTS also operates or supports large-scale transit-payment infrastructure, handling extensive transaction volumes and integrating physical cards, contactless bank payments, mobile wallets, barcodes, and account-based fare media. The Umo Mobility Platform is one of the company's prominent mobility products. Launched in 2021, Umo is designed to connect public and private mobility services through journey planning, contactless payments, real-time information, customer accounts, and loyalty features. Cubic has also expanded into road-network management and intersection analytics. Its acquisition of Trafficware brought traffic-simulation and management capabilities, while the purchase of GRIDSMART added computer-vision-based intersection detection using a single-camera approach to help agencies monitor and optimize the movement of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions, or CMPS, serves defense, intelligence, security, government, and selected commercial customers. Its capabilities include networked command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; secure communications; tactical satellite communications; full-motion-video exploitation; imagery management; operational support; and realistic military training and simulation. Businesses and units associated with this area include Cubic Defence New Zealand, DTECH Labs, TeraLogics, GATR Technologies, Vocality, and PIXIA. These activities support United States and allied defense organizations, first responders, government agencies, and other mission-oriented customers. In May 2021, Cubic completed a transaction in which Veritas Capital and Elliott Management acquired the company, taking it private after decades as a listed corporation. Stevan Slijepcevic became president and chief executive officer in January 2022. Cubic continues to operate internationally, with transportation and defense projects across multiple continents. Its recent public profile has included major transit-ticketing implementations, procurement disputes, and criticism surrounding difficult technology rollouts. The company also faced sanctions announced by China in 2025 in connection with alleged participation in arms sales to Taiwan.
History
Cubic Corporation was founded in San Diego, California, in 1949 by Walter J. Zable. The company began operations in 1951 as an electronics business. Its first reported product was a calorimetric wattmeter, an instrument designed to measure microwave output. The name Cubic was intended to convey precision and an engineering orientation. Cubic became publicly traded in 1959. During its early expansion, the company broadened its industrial activities, including the 1969 acquisition of United States Elevator Corporation, a manufacturer of passenger and freight elevators. Over time, however, Cubic developed a stronger identity in specialized transportation and defense technology. The company built systems for government and military customers while also becoming a significant supplier of automated fare collection and transit-management infrastructure. Cubic Transportation Systems was established as a major business platform for public transportation technology. Its work covers the design, integration, operation, and support of fare-payment systems, including ticket machines, fare gates, smart-card readers, mobile ticketing, contactless payments, and central revenue systems. The business also provides customer service, maintenance, operational IT, traffic management, tolling, passenger-information systems, and analytics. CTS has delivered hundreds of projects in markets across several continents and has participated in major systems such as London's Oyster, New York's OMNY, Chicago's Ventra, and Brisbane's go card. It introduced mobile ticketing capabilities in the mid-2000s and later moved toward account-based and wallet-integrated fare payment. Cubic's transportation portfolio expanded through acquisitions. Trafficware, acquired in 2018, added traffic-simulation and traffic-management capabilities. GRIDSMART, acquired in 2019, contributed camera-based intersection detection using image processing, computer vision, and machine-learning techniques. Cubic also introduced the Umo Mobility Platform in 2021 to connect public and private transportation services through mobile journey planning, payments, real-time information, and related rider functions. The company's defense and security activities were consolidated in Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions. This segment supplies C4ISR capabilities, secure communications, tactical satellite communications, military training and simulation, full-motion-video processing, imagery management, maintenance, and technical support. Associated businesses have included Cubic Defence New Zealand, DTECH Labs, TeraLogics, GATR Technologies, Vocality, and PIXIA. Their customers include United States and allied defense organizations, intelligence agencies, first responders, government bodies, and commercial users of secure communications or imagery systems. In May 2021, Veritas Capital and Elliott Management completed the acquisition of Cubic. The transaction removed Cubic from the public market and converted it into a privately held company. Stevan Slijepcevic was appointed president and chief executive officer in January 2022. Since then, Cubic has remained active in international transit and defense markets. Its projects have included a national ticketing initiative in New Zealand and continuing fare-system work in North America and Australia. The company has also faced public scrutiny over delays and problems associated with major transit implementations, a procurement challenge related to Victoria's Myki upgrade, and Chinese sanctions announced in 2025 over alleged involvement in arms sales to Taiwan.
- 2025
Chinese sanctions announced
[1]China announced sanctions against Cubic among a group of United States military-industrial companies over alleged arms sales to Taiwan.
- 2022
New chief executive appointed
[1]Stevan Slijepcevic became president and chief executive officer.
- 2022
New Zealand national ticketing contract
[1]Cubic was selected to develop New Zealand's National Ticketing Solution, later associated with the Motu Move program.
- 2021
Umo Mobility Platform launched
[1]Cubic launched Umo, a multimodal platform combining journey planning, digital payments, real-time information, and rider-account functions.
- 2021
Cubic becomes privately held
[1]Veritas Capital and Elliott Management completed their acquisition of Cubic, ending its public-market listing.
- 2019
GRIDSMART acquired
[1]CTS acquired GRIDSMART and added video-based intersection detection and traffic analytics to its mobility portfolio.
- 2018
Trafficware acquired
[1]CTS acquired Advanced Traffic Solutions, known as Trafficware, expanding its traffic-management and simulation capabilities.
- 2006
Mobile ticketing deployment
[1]Cubic implemented mobile ticketing technology, supporting barcode, NFC, and other digital fare-media approaches.
- 1972
Cubic Transportation Systems established
[1]Cubic Transportation Systems was founded as the company's dedicated public-transportation technology business.
- 1969
Elevator-sector acquisition
[1]Cubic acquired United States Elevator Corporation, expanding its industrial manufacturing activities.
Products and positioning
Cubic positions itself as an infrastructure and mission-technology provider operating at the intersection of transportation, defense, communications, and data. In transportation, it emphasizes integrated fare payment, mobility management, operational software, and long-term outsourced services for public agencies. In defense and security, it emphasizes mission-ready communications, intelligence systems, training, simulation, and support for government and allied customers.
Public transportation technology
Cubic Transportation Systems automated fare collection
An integrated family of fare-payment systems for transit agencies, including ticket vending machines, station gates, smart-card readers, mobile ticketing, contactless bank-card acceptance, account-based payment, central transaction processing, revenue management, customer support, and operational services. Cubic supplies both the passenger-facing equipment and the software and back-office infrastructure required to collect, reconcile, and report fares.
Mobility platform · 2021
Umo Mobility Platform
A multimodal mobility platform launched in 2021. Umo is designed to combine public and private mobility services through journey planning, digital and contactless payments, real-time travel information, rider accounts, and loyalty features. It is intended to give transit agencies a software environment for managing customer-facing mobility services as well as fare-related interactions.
Traffic and intersection management
GRIDSMART
A video-detection and intersection-analytics system acquired by Cubic Transportation Systems in 2019. GRIDSMART uses image processing, computer-vision models, and machine-learning methods with a single-camera configuration to observe traffic, bicycles, and pedestrians. The resulting data can help transportation agencies manage intersections and improve the movement of people and vehicles.
Traffic-management software
Trafficware
Trafficware is the transportation-technology business acquired through Advanced Traffic Solutions in 2018. It extends Cubic's mobility portfolio into traffic simulation, planning, and management, allowing agencies and transport operators to analyze road networks and support decisions concerning congestion, signal operations, and traffic flow.
Defense technology
Defense training and simulation systems
Cubic's defense portfolio includes realistic training environments, instrumentation, simulation, and related support systems for military forces. These capabilities are intended to help armed forces rehearse operations, measure performance, and prepare personnel for complex scenarios. Cubic Defence New Zealand is one of the associated businesses serving this market.
Defense and communications
C4ISR and secure communications systems
Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions supplies networked command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The broader portfolio includes secure communications, tactical connectivity, satellite communications, and technical or operational support for defense, intelligence, security, government, and selected commercial customers.
Satellite communications
GATR Technologies satellite terminals
Portable inflatable satellite-communications and C4ISR terminals designed for use in tactical, remote, or otherwise difficult environments. The systems are intended to provide deployable connectivity for military, government, emergency, and other mission-oriented users.
Controversies
2025
Chinese sanctions over Taiwan-related arms sales
The People's Republic of China announced sanctions against Cubic and other United States military-industrial companies, alleging involvement in arms sales to Taiwan. The action is a geopolitical and regulatory sanction rather than a finding by a court, and the available reference does not specify the detailed restrictions applied to Cubic.
Brand decisions
2023
Request to review Victoria's Myki tenderOtherBackground
Cubic disputed the Victorian government's decision to award an upgrade of the Myki ticketing system to competitor Conduent.
Action taken
Cubic wrote to Victoria's premier requesting a review of the procurement process and argued that its proposal had been assessed unfairly.
Aftermath
The available reference records Cubic's challenge but does not establish that the award was overturned or that a formal review changed the outcome.
- Conduent
2021
Launch of Umo Mobility PlatformProduct launchBackground
Cubic aimed to respond to the shift toward multimodal travel, digital fare media, mobile applications, and integrated mobility services.
Action taken
Cubic launched Umo as a platform for journey planning, contactless payments, real-time information, and rider services.
Aftermath
Umo became a central branded platform in Cubic's transportation-technology portfolio.
2021
Sale to Veritas Capital and Elliott ManagementM&ABackground
Cubic's owners agreed to a transaction that would remove the company from the public market.
Action taken
Veritas Capital and Elliott Management completed the acquisition of Cubic, converting it into a privately held company.
Aftermath
Cubic ceased to be publicly traded after more than six decades as a listed company.
2019
Acquisition of GRIDSMARTM&ABackground
Cubic pursued computer-vision and intersection-management capabilities to complement its fare-collection and intelligent-mobility offerings.
Action taken
Cubic Transportation Systems acquired GRIDSMART, a provider of camera-based intersection detection and analytics.
Aftermath
GRIDSMART's video detection and machine-learning capabilities became part of Cubic's traffic-management portfolio.
Acquisition consideration. Approximately $87 million cash consideration (2019)
2018
Acquisition of TrafficwareM&ABackground
Cubic sought to broaden its transportation business beyond fare collection into traffic planning, simulation, and road-network management.
Action taken
Cubic Transportation Systems acquired Advanced Traffic Solutions, known as Trafficware.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Cubic's intelligent-transportation portfolio and added traffic-management capabilities.
Acquisition consideration. $235.7 million cash consideration (2018)
Recent events
- 2026
Bay Area officials criticize Clipper 2.0 rollout[1]
Other · Product launch
Bay Area transit officials criticized the reported December 2025 rollout of Clipper 2.0, citing account-access failures, payment problems, timeouts, and overloaded customer-support channels.
- 2023
Cubic challenges Victorian Myki procurement outcome[1]
Other
Cubic asked Victoria's premier to review the tender process that awarded a Myki system upgrade to Conduent, arguing that its own bid and operational qualifications had not been assessed appropriately.
- 2022
Stevan Slijepcevic named Cubic president and CEO[1]
Leadership change
Stevan Slijepcevic became president and chief executive officer of Cubic Corporation.
- 2022
Cubic selected for New Zealand national ticketing solution[1]
Product launch · Other
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi selected Cubic to develop a national public-transport ticketing platform intended to support a common fare card across the country.
- 2021
Cubic completes sale to Veritas Capital and Elliott Management[1]
M&A
Cubic completed its acquisition by Veritas Capital and Elliott Management, ending its status as a publicly traded New York Stock Exchange company and making it privately held.
Sources3 sources
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