Prominent Israeli businessman and philanthropist Dr. Shmuel Harlap passed away Tuesday night at his home at the age of 82, surrounded by his family.
Harlap was one of the most prominent and influential business figures in Israel as chairman of Colmobil, an importer of Mercedes, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Jaecoo, Omoda, and ORA.
He was a tech investor, philanthropist, and marathon runner. "His story is an extraordinary one in the local business landscape, blending the worlds of academia and philosophy, business management, groundbreaking tech investments, writing on social and economic affairs, and his identity as a marathoner and a man of giving," his family stated.
Born in 1944, Harlap held a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he also taught in the late 1970s.
In the early 1980s, Shmuel joined the leadership of the family business. Initially alongside his brother Yoav, and later with his son Asaf, he served as active chairman, steering Colmobil’s expansion. The acquisition of the Mitsubishi franchise in 1988 and Hyundai in 1994 transformed the company from a small auto importer into the largest player in the market, now also operating in energy, recycling, and real estate.
A Key Early Investor in Mobileye
Harlap was one of the earliest investors in Mobileye, helping the company off the ground and connecting it with major global automaker groups. When Intel acquired the company, his stake was valued at about $1 billion. He subsequently invested in additional companies, including the Israeli eVTOL ("flying car") developer AIR.
In recent years, alongside his wife Anat, he stood behind some of the largest and most significant philanthropic donations made in Israel to science and medicine. In 2023, he donated 120 cars to residents evacuated from communities near the Gaza border following October 7. In 2025, the couple donated $10 million to the Weizmann Institute of Science after Iranian missile strikes severely damaged the institute.
Shortly thereafter, Anat and Shmuel Harlap announced a donation of approximately 600 million NIS to Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva - the largest single donation ever made to the Israeli healthcare system. The funds are designated for constructing a new heart and brain medical center named "Hope Tower" (Migdal HaTikva). The couple intentionally chose not to name the tower after themselves, reflecting a philanthropic philosophy centered on the public good rather than the donors. Inspired by their move, several other donors significantly increased their contributions to Israeli healthcare.
Alongside business and philanthropy, Harlap was a prolific writer and an independent public voice. Over the years, he published dozens of articles and op-eds in the Israeli media covering economic, social, political, and technological issues. His writing drew from a unique combination of academic rigor and rich business experience, offering a broad vision for Israel's future and the key forces shaping Israeli reality.
Harlap was also committed to physical fitness and competitive sports, completing three full marathons - his first in New York at age 60 - and competing in the European Indoor Rowing Championships.
"Shmuel was the intellectual among the importers - a wise, broad-minded man who was also deeply involved in public commentary. He was an exceptional competitor, tough yet a true gentleman. He left a lasting impression on the Hyundai Group leadership as well. In recent years, he stepped back for the younger generation and was deeply concerned about the country's future. I will miss him; people like him won't come around again. It’s a real pang in the heart. I wish his son Asaf the best in taking the business forward," fellow automobile importer and businessman Rami Ungar (importer of Kia, KGM, and Seres) told Walla.
Shmuel Harlap is survived by his wife Anat, his children Asaf and Goni, and seven grandchildren.