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."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • What's next for transport communication systems?
    February 2, 2012
    Moxa Americas, Inc.'s Charles Chen ponders the way forward for transportation communications networks in the US
  • Ethernet to tap new synergies for connected cars
    July 25, 2013
    Ethernet could be catalyst for bringing the automotive industry a step closer to connected vehicles. The latest report from Frost and Sullivan indicates that the need to integrate multiple consumer electronic devices into the car offering connected services and maintaining brand identity has led to a situation where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are shifting toward higher connectivity options which could power prioritised and personalised services, catering to varied consumer needs. With the parad
  • Mature solutions for emerging economies
    June 8, 2015
    Siemens’ Marcus Welz talks to David Crawford about suitable ITS solutions for emerging economies. Be bold in vision - and output - and user-oriented in practice,” Marcus Welz advises emerging economies planning ITS investments. Says the Siemens Group senior vice president and global sales director for ITS: “Their road users need better, more reliable and safer trips – but without costs increasing too much. The good news is that many countries are already tackling the big issues of traffic and the environmen
  • Saving the world, one parking space at a time
    December 7, 2020
    Donald Shoup, professor of urban planning at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), tells Adam Hill about why parking is too cheap – and how Monopoly could seriously raise its game