Imagine driving your all-electric luxury Mercedes-Benz to the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, stepping out, and letting your vehicle park itself. This isn’t a scene from a futuristic movie; it’s the reality demonstrated in downtown Los Angeles, showcasing the groundbreaking automated valet parking technology from Bosch and Mercedes-Benz. This innovative system, featuring the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT in the Mercedes-EQ EQS sedan, promises to redefine the parking experience in bustling urban centers like downtown Los Angeles.
At the heart of this demonstration, held at the iconic InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, is the seamless integration of Bosch’s automated valet parking technology with the advanced capabilities of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The EQS sedan, a flagship model in the Mercedes-EQ electric lineup, took center stage to exhibit the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT. This technology, combined with a user-friendly smartphone app, offers a glimpse into the future of vehicle convenience and efficiency, particularly appealing to drivers in a vibrant and often congested city center like downtown Los Angeles.
The choice of the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown as the demonstration site is significant. This 889-room hotel, located in the tallest building west of Chicago, presents a real-world, complex environment for testing automated parking technology. The successful demonstration here underscores the viability of this system in operational settings, where both automated and conventional vehicles navigate alongside pedestrian traffic.
Dr. Kay Stepper, Senior Vice President of Automated Driving and Driver Assistance for Bosch in North America, highlighted the importance of this real-world testing ground. “The demonstration at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown vividly illustrates how automated valet parking can function in a busy hotel environment. It’s a space where automated and non-automated vehicles interact with pedestrians. This setting allows us to deeply understand the practical dynamics of deploying this technology locally, utilizing the highly connected Mercedes-EQ EQS to demonstrate the tangible progress in automated technology.”
Dr. Philipp Skogstad, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, emphasized the luxury of time saved through this technology. “Our customers value time, and we aim to enhance their luxury experience by giving some of it back. The EQS already offers time-saving features like automated driving in highway traffic jams. Now, with INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, it extends this convenience to parking, potentially parking itself. INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, together with the necessary infrastructure, creates an automated valet service that brings even greater ease and comfort to our customers’ daily lives, especially for those navigating a busy city like Los Angeles.”
INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT: A Closer Look at Mercedes-Benz Innovation
The demonstration in downtown Los Angeles specifically showcased the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT using the Mercedes-Benz EQS’s existing hardware. This technology is already available, with optional equipment, in models like the S-Class and EQS in Germany and Europe. The EQS interacted seamlessly with the intelligent infrastructure installed by Bosch within the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown parking garage. This interaction allowed the vehicle to autonomously maneuver and park itself within the garage.
Strategically placed sensors within the parking structure are crucial to this system. These sensors communicate with the Mercedes-Benz vehicle, providing guidance for its movements throughout the parking facility. Beyond just parking, the demonstration also hinted at future possibilities, including automated EV charging, car washes, and vehicle servicing. In these scenarios, vehicles would autonomously move to and from service areas, guided by the intelligent infrastructure – a vision particularly relevant for the growing EV adoption in areas like downtown Los Angeles.
For Mercedes-Benz EQS models equipped with the required optional features and the corresponding Connect service, the technology enables entry and exit from Bosch-equipped multi-story parking garages in highly automated mode, completely driverless. This functionality depends on the availability of the Connect service, specific vehicle variants, and adherence to national legislation.
Smartphone App Integration: A Holistic User Experience
The user experience is central to the automated valet parking concept. Imagine arriving at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. The driver parks the Mercedes-Benz in a designated drop-off zone at the parking facility entrance. Once all passengers are out, the driver initiates the parking process via a smartphone app. The parking garage’s sensor system then checks for an available parking space, or confirms a pre-booked reservation. If a suitable space is available, the Automated Valet Parking infrastructure confirms the vehicle handover to the driver via the app, allowing them to leave the EQS.
Subsequently, the vehicle starts automatically and proceeds driverless to its assigned parking spot, guided by the Bosch infrastructure. Upon the driver’s return, they can summon the EQS back to a designated pick-up area using a smartphone command. This streamlined process significantly reduces the time and hassle associated with searching for parking and walking through large parking garages – a valuable benefit for Mercedes-Benz owners in downtown Los Angeles.
Automated Parking: A Step Towards Full Autonomy
Automated valet parking represents a significant step towards fully automated driving. This technology clearly demonstrates the tangible benefits of automation for drivers, easing the often-stressful parking experience.
“Low-speed maneuvers like parking are a crucial part of the broader spectrum of automated technology,” Dr. Stepper noted. “Automated valet parking, as a specific use case, helps consumers become comfortable with automated technology and understand its practical advantages.”
Bosch’s engineering teams have been actively developing automated valet parking for several years, supporting testing and deployments worldwide. This demonstration at Mercedes-Benz downtown Los Angeles partner, InterContinental Hotel, is a key milestone in this ongoing development.
Benefits for Drivers and Parking Operators Alike
Automated valet parking offers advantages for both vehicle owners and parking garage operators. For Mercedes-Benz drivers in downtown Los Angeles and elsewhere, the most immediate benefit is time-saving and convenience. No more circling blocks searching for parking spaces.
Parking garage operators also stand to gain significantly. Automated valet parking can increase parking capacity, as vehicles parked autonomously require less space – no need to accommodate door opening on all sides after passenger exit. Furthermore, operators can offer value-added services like automated EV charging, car washing, and routine maintenance, enhancing the overall parking experience and creating new revenue streams. These services can be particularly attractive in a location like downtown Los Angeles, catering to a tech-savvy and convenience-focused clientele.
Mercedes-Benz’s demonstration of INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT in downtown Los Angeles, in collaboration with Bosch, marks a significant advancement in automotive technology. It promises a future where parking is no longer a chore but a seamless, automated part of the driving experience, especially for luxury vehicle owners in bustling urban environments. As Mercedes-Benz continues to innovate, expect to see more of these technologies making everyday driving in downtown Los Angeles and beyond, more convenient and enjoyable.
