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Mercedes & Bosch open world's first self-driving valet service

The technology, however, is available only on Mercedes' flagship models, the S-Class & EQS, built after July 2022.

Mercedes-Benz & Bosch have received regulatory approval to open the world's first fully-automated valet for commercial use. The self-driving car park service technology was first showcased by Mercedes & Bosch in 2017. The two companies have also been testing the system at the Stuttgart Airport since 2020.

Now, Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority has approved the technology to be used in the P6 parking garage at the Stuttgart Airport. The P6 parking garage is run by Apcoa - an airport parking management company.

The technology allows customers to drive their cars to a designated drop-off point at the entrance, hop out and then use the Mercedes Me app to send the car to a pre-booked parking space. Bosch is said to have developed sensors all around the car park, which communicate with the car's self-driving tech. The tech also allows the car to return to the drop-off point using the same method.

Reports suggest that existing car parks, including multi-story parking lots, can be retro-fitted with the sensors. Also, since the doors of the vehicle need not be opened at any stage, the cars can even be parked closer together.

The technology, however, is available only on Mercedes' flagship models, the S-Class & EQS, built after July 2022. Both come activated with an Intelligent Park Pilot feature via the Mercedes Me Connect.

The self-driving valet tech is reportedly being tested for the USA. A demonstration of the new tech was held in a Los Angeles parking lot earlier this year.

 
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