Skip to main content

Report forecasts major growth in smart parking

According to new analysis by Frost & Sullivan, Future of Vehicle Parking Management Systems in North America and Europe, growth opportunities are expected to attract new start-ups in the parking industry, providing real-time parking applications. The industry is expected to witness investments and funding from venture capitalist (VC) firms, ranging from US$200-$250 million in the next three to five years. This is made evident through the emergence of companies, such as Streetline (US and Europe), ParkatmyHo
September 24, 2013 Read time: 4 mins
According to new analysis by Frost & Sullivan, Future of Vehicle Parking Management Systems in North America and Europe, growth opportunities are expected to attract new start-ups in the parking industry, providing real-time parking applications. The industry is expected to witness investments and funding from venture capitalist (VC) firms, ranging from US$200-$250 million in the next three to five years. This is made evident through the emergence of companies, such as 579 Streetline (US and Europe), ParkatmyHouse (US and Europe), and GottaPark (US) which have introduced innovative parking apps providing real-time information on parking lots and spaces, and the option to book or reserve and pay for parking online.

"A significant number of private-public joint initiatives have set up smart parking solutions at many of the largest cities in Europe and the US, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, and Brussels," says Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Automotive and Transportation, Neelam Barua. "Even parking application providers offer extended services to parking operators and local-level city governments manage and support parking in the city."
 
Parking is a US$25-billion industry in the United States and a €50-billion industry in Western Europe (EU-15). "Primarily operated and managed in a traditional manner with very little focus on innovation and smart parking, the operational value chain was simple," he says. "It included parking operators and their engagements with service providers.  The new environment however, is highly concentrated with a different genre of participants exploring numerous opportunities in parking." By 2020, more than one million parking spaces and numerous smart parking meters are expected to deliver real-time parking information with the help of sensors to motorists and parking operators, simplifying parking operation and business.
 
"A revolutionary trend is smart parking, a real-time parking system that helps drivers find a vacant spot," explains Barua. "The system integrates street-level sensors, parking analytics, and a mobile app to reserve, navigate and pay for the parking spot." A number of parking app providers, such as Parker (Streetline), ParkatmyHouse, Parkmobile, and QuickPay, are providing services to simplify and redefine parking as a business and innovation hub for cities.

In a bid to combat increasing parking charges, the UK government is thinking of developing legislations to allow property owners to rent their driveways to motorists, without it being considered a business. The parking industry is getting more integrated and converged, thus, transforming into a hot spot for mobility in cities and a dependable revenue generation model.
 
"OEMs increasingly view parking as an important service that needs to be integrated within the vehicle's telematics system," Barua goes on. "To do so, they are not only developing in-vehicle systems but also investing through their VC arms in organisations that are developing these solutions." ParkatmyHouse for example, was the second strategic investment from 6279 BMW i Ventures in London in 2011. Similarly, 2069 Daimler Mobility Services acquired a financial interest in GottaPark at the end of last year for its simplified approach, collaborative growth, and cost-effective business model."

Another example of such a partnership is what 2125 Audi and 4349 Lexus have developed with 163 Inrix for in-vehicle integrated real-time parking services and traffic navigation for existing and new Audi and Lexus IS vehicles in Europe and North America. 2453 Renault on the other hand, has signed an agreement with 5176 Vinci Park, a European leader in parking management, to provide charging infrastructure and associated services for electric vehicles in car parks in France.
 
“In future finding a parking spot is going to be less of a hassle due to advanced technology, savvy users, and social media-based parking initiatives," concludes Barua. "Real-time, smart parking and navigable parking lots will proliferate and become the future trends in parking along with autonomous parking services in cars."

Related Content

  • January 3, 2017
    Collaborations with technology providers offer European automotive OEMs new growth opportunities
    Improvements in advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors are driving automation features in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles, according to Frost & Sullivan’s new research, Market Analysis of Premium European OEMs ADAS and Automated Driving Strategies. By collaborating with leading technology providers in the autonomous driving space, OEMs have an opportunity to transform into mobility service providers and introduce levels 4 and 5 autonomous cars earlier than expected. With several
  • May 7, 2013
    Rising awareness of car sharing concept set to increase uptake
    According to Frost and Sullivan, whilst car sharing as a concept has existed for several years, the uptake rates and emergence of new players in the traditional as well as peer to peer (P2P) car sharing market has proliferated in the last five years. Member numbers increased by over 90 per cent between 2008 and 2012, growing from 500,000 to over 940,000 and, says Frost & Sullivan, this trend is set to continue. In an forthcoming web conference, Car Sharing – The Voice of the Consumer, on Tuesday, 14 May 201
  • January 11, 2024
    Ptolemus' short guide to picking an ITS winner
    What makes a good ITS investment and what are the chances of the money coming into transportation creating an unsustainable bubble? Frederic Bruneteau and Alberto Lodieu of Ptolemus Consulting Group take a look at the market and suggest some key areas of interest for the future
  • April 21, 2017
    Global powertrain market experience immense growth, say researchers
    The latest report from Frost & Sullivan indicates that the global powertrain market is experiencing immense growth as new low-emission technologies such as engine downsizing and rightsizing; direct injection; turbocharging; transmission electrification; and electric vehicle (EV), hybrid and gasoline engines transform the industry. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are embracing platform strategy as a tool to improve the energy efficiency of powertrain systems and to achieve fleet level CO2 compliance