Skip to main content

Study calls Inrix off-street parking the ‘clear winner’ in US and Europe

An independent off-street parking benchmark study carried out by automotive technology research firm SBD has concluded that ParkMe, an Inrix company, beat Parkopedia in data accuracy across the key attribute categories in five cities in the US and Germany. According to the study, overall, ParkMe was 12 per cent more accurate than Parkopedia across a set of core attributes that are essential to automakers for customer satisfaction. Most important, ParkMe was 23 per cent more accurate providing the precise
January 21, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
An independent off-street parking benchmark study carried out by automotive technology research firm 4263 SBD has concluded that 6114 ParkMe, an 163 Inrix company, beat 7374 Parkopedia in data accuracy across the key attribute categories in five cities in the US and Germany.

According to the study, overall, ParkMe was 12 per cent more accurate than Parkopedia across a set of core attributes that are essential to automakers for customer satisfaction. Most important, ParkMe was 23 per cent more accurate providing the precise entrance location to parking lots as compared to Parkopedia. ParkMe was the ‘clear winner’ across parking attributes including pricing information accuracy (91 percent versus 81 percent) and correct parking lot operating hours (87 per cent versus 83 per cent).

ParkMe, acquired by Inrix in September 2015, has built the world’s most comprehensive parking database that includes more than 29 million confirmed spaces in over 90,000 accessible locations spanning 4,000 cities in 64 countries. ParkMe only displays publicly accessible, non-restricted lots, including both free and fee parking locations, unlike Parkopedia, which also displays restricted-access lots. By excluding restricted lots from its worldwide dataset, consumers using ParkMe are not misrouted to locations that are unavailable to the general public.

SBD’s assessment looked at 488 random parking lots in November 2015 across Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart in Germany, as well as Boston and San Francisco in the United States. SBD’s trained data collectors evaluated on-site attributes lot by lot (backed by photographic evidence), then compared the field results to published information on respective ParkMe and Parkopedia websites. From the findings, SBD assessed overall accuracy scores, and scores per attribute, lot and city. SBD was compensated for collecting the data, but the assessments and scoring were completed on an objective and independent basis.

“SBD’s off-street parking study tells a very compelling story about the quality of ParkMe’s coverage in the US and Europe,” said Mark St Andrew, senior connected car analyst at SBD North America and the study’s author. “These results reinforce the importance of automotive OEMs and service providers focusing on the end-to-end experience for consumers, the foundation of which is starting with the most accurate data possible.”

“Inrix has always striven to have the most complete and reliable dynamic driver services worldwide,” said Steve Banfield, chief marketing officer of Inrix. “SBD has confirmed what we were already very confident in – that ParkMe has the most accurate parking service in the industry, which ultimately leads to very happy drivers.”

Inrix has also announced a new licensing agreement with Parknav to expand its on-street parking services to more than 20 German cities, bringing its total coverage to over 40 cities worldwide.

Parknav uses machine learning, big data and predictive analytics to determine what streets will have open parking in real-time. The solution works on all road types and covers all on-street parking categories including free, metered and permit parking. BMW will be the first automaker to include Inrix’s breakthrough service into its ConnectedDrive cars.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Norwegian study finds electric cars 'pose environmental threat'
    October 5, 2012
    According to a study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, electric cars might pollute much more than petrol or diesel-powered cars. Researchers found greenhouse gas emissions rose dramatically if coal was used to produce the electricity. Electric car factories also emitted more toxic waste than conventional car factories, claims their report in the Journal of Industrial Energy. However, in some cases electric cars still made sense, the researchers said.
  • Parkopedia offers services for Mercedes-Benz cars in China
    February 20, 2019
    Parkopedia has integrated its service into Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in China to provide drivers with information on parking garages. The company says the service offers information on garage prices, opening hours, precise location and dynamic space availability. Parkopedia’s service is available with new A-class Mercedes Benz cars equipped with the Command Online Navigation system. The Mercedes Command Online Navigation System controls a range of vehicle functions such as the sat nav and ste
  • Here to lead vehicle hazard warning pilot in Finland
    July 1, 2015
    Mapping and navigation specialist Here has been selected by Finnish traffic agencies Finnish Transport Agency (FTA) and Trafi, the Finnish Transport Safety Agency to lead a pilot project to enable vehicles to communicate safety hazards to others on the road. Here will also work with traffic information management service company Infotripla in implementing the project, which will be the first to implement a road hazard warning messaging system as described in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
  • Garmin and Inrix team up to offer faster 3D traffic services
    August 31, 2012
    Satellite navigation provider Garmin, is teaming with Inrix, leaders in the field of traffic intelligence technology to provide up-to-the-minute traffic information across the DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) network. By leveraging the latest breakthroughs in DAB technology, Inrix will help Garmin deliver better, more detailed live traffic data, updated more frequently and without an internet connection. Garmin says this new generation of “Garmin 3D Traffic Live” will provide their customers access to fully