Mercedes-Benz/Bosch: Driverless Parking System Goes Into Series Production
Mercedes-Benz and Bosch have received approval from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority for their fully automated parking system in the APCOA-operated P6 parking garage at Stuttgart Airport. This approval makes it the world's first fully automated and driverless parking function approved for series production operation according to SAE Level 4. The technological advancement of automated driving plays a key role in the mobility of the future. As early as 2019, Bosch and Mercedes-Benz had received the world's first special permit for Automated Valet Parking to operate development vehicles without human supervision in everyday operations at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The newly granted approval goes beyond this and enables serial use with private vehicles in the P6 parking garage at Stuttgart Airport.
The basis for the now granted approval is a law that came into effect in Germany in July 2021, allowing driverless driving according to SAE Level 4 for motor vehicles (BMDV - Law on autonomous driving comes into force). In close coordination with the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) as well as the KBA, its application to the parking system was implemented. The AFGBV (Autonomous Vehicle Approval and Operation Ordinance) was passed in the German Bundesrat on May 20, 2022, and specifies the requirements for Level 4 vehicles within the StVG.
Gradual Rollout for S-Class and EQS
The companies are now planning a gradual rollout of the driverless parking service for the P6 parking garage at Stuttgart Airport: the first customers of the S-Class and EQS with a production date from 07.2022, for whose vehicle variants the Mercedes me connect service Intelligent Park Pilot II is available and activated, can use the function from the activation date in everyday operations in the P6 parking garage at Stuttgart Airport operated by APCOA.
After the driver has reserved a parking spot in advance through the Mercedes me app, the vehicle can be parked within a predefined drop-off area. The parking process is initiated in the Mercedes me app after all passengers have disembarked. The parking system checks whether the route to the booked parking spot is clear and whether all other technical prerequisites are met. If this is the case, the driver is notified in the app that the vehicle has been taken over by the intelligent infrastructure, and they can leave the parking garage. Subsequently, the vehicle starts automatically and drives autonomously to its parking spot. If the driver wants to leave the parking garage with their car, they can use a smartphone command to have their vehicle drive to a predefined pick-up area.
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