BMW to launch ParkNow mobile parking service in San Francisco

At a press conference yesterday with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, BMW Group board member Dr Ian Robertson announced the upcoming launch of ParkNow, an innovative mobile parking solution that is a joint venture with Urban Mobility, and provided new details about DriveNow, a premium car-sharing service which features a fleet of BMW ActiveE all-electric vehicles. San Francisco serves as the initial US market for each service.
August 21, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
At a press conference yesterday with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, 6419 BMW Group board member Dr Ian Robertson announced the upcoming launch of ParkNow, an innovative mobile parking solution that is a joint venture with Urban Mobility, and provided new details about DriveNow, a premium car-sharing service which features a fleet of BMW ActiveE all-electric vehicles. San Francisco serves as the initial US market for each service.

ParkNow, which will be available to drivers beginning in September, is an online mobile parking service that enables users to pay for parking in advance, with guaranteed access and clearly defined rates, based on their personal preferences. Customers can search for parking using ParkNow’s mobile app or website, reserve, pay and then be navigated directly to the parking facility, reducing time spent looking for parking, as well as emissions. There are currently 14 ParkNow locations in and around San Francisco piloting the system. Four ParkNow partner operators, ProPark America, Towne Park, ABM Parking and California Parking, will launch over 100 additional ParkNow locations in the coming weeks.

DriveNow which launched in June in San Francisco is a flexible, premium car-sharing programme offering the opportunity to drive BMW’s first all-electric vehicle, the BMW ActiveE with zero emission driving. The fleet of 70 ActiveE vehicles is located at eight DriveNow Stations around San Francisco, with two additional stations in Palo Alto and at the San Francisco International Airport coming soon. Through a partnership with California-based 4824 Coulomb Technologies’ ChargePoint network, drivers can easily locate a nearby charging station if they need to top-off during the course of their rental, which has no time limit. Parking and charging is free at DriveNow Stations.
Parking & Access Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • TRAFIC 2017: Automobile and scooter brands to exhibit electric mobility models
    October 9, 2017
    A total of 8 automobile and scooter brands will be presenting 14 models at TRAFIC 2017, the International Safe and Sustainable Mobility Exhibition, at the new electric and efficient mobility area, from 24 to 27 October. The 15th edition, organised by IFEMA, will feature Audi (F. Tomé), BMW (Cuzco Motor), Hyundai, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen (F. Tomé) and NIU (Motos Bordoy) will present their models to professionals and demonstrate the industry's dedication to electric mobility.
    Read More
  • Zipcar and Houston launch first of its kind municipal EV car sharing scheme
    August 23, 2012
    Leading car sharing network company Zipcar has announced a new partnership with the city of Houston to launch a municipal electric vehicle (EV) fleet sharing programme, called Houston Fleet Share. Through this initiative, 50 existing city-owned fleet vehicles – including 25 Nissan Leaf EVs – will be outfitted with Zipcar's FastFleet proprietary fleet sharing technology for use by city employees across all departments.
    Read More
  • Parking provision dictates commuters’ modal choice
    March 16, 2016
    Researchers from two American Universities have found the provision of parking spaces can encourage automobile use and increase traffic congestion. It is well understood that increased automobile use is linked to congestion, environmental degradation and negative health and safety impacts. Trials of smart parking technology has shown a reduction in circulating traffic (looking for parking) can ease congestion and that the cost of parking can influence commuters’ modal choice. Now, researchers at the univers
    Read More
  • Atlanta ponders Mobility as a Service for seamless transit
    June 29, 2018
    Drivers in Atlanta spent 70 hours in peak-time traffic jams last year. As the MaaS Market conference moves to the US’s fourth most congested city, we ask how Mobility as a Service can help. Colin Sowman winds down his window to listen. It is not by accident that ITS International’s first MaaS Market conference outside London is being hosted in Atlanta. The event is being supported by Georgia State Road & Tollway Authority and the City of Atlanta – and again not without a reason as metro Atlanta is looking
    Read More

Highlighted Content