BERLIN (Reuters) – Bosch and Mercedes-Benz have received approval for a fully automated self-parking software which enables cars to drive themselves into a pre-booked parking spot at a Stuttgart Airport parking lot and back out again, Bosch said on Wednesday.
The software relies on communication with sensors in the parking location to detect obstacles in its path, and has for now only been approved for use in one parking house in Stuttgart Airport which is fitted with the technology, the company said.
The function will be available for Mercedes-Benz customers owning an S Class or EQS produced from July 2022 onwards.
The two companies received approval in 2019 to begin using the automated valet parking system at the Mercedes-Benz Museum parking garage, and have been cooperating on the development of fully automated driverless parking since 2015.
Car owners can book a parking spot ahead of time via an app, and leave their vehicle in a drop-off area. As soon as they get out, the car will drive itself to its spot, and can be called back out again via the app, according to Bosch’s release.
Germany passed a law in July last year allowing Level 4 autonomous driving, with no human involvement, in defined operating areas of public spaces.
(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, editing by Rachel More)
