IAA Motor Show Unveils New Automatic Valet System

The booth of Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is seen during a press preview at the International Motor Show (IAA), in Munich, Germany, Sept. 6, 2021. (AFP)
The booth of Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is seen during a press preview at the International Motor Show (IAA), in Munich, Germany, Sept. 6, 2021. (AFP)
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IAA Motor Show Unveils New Automatic Valet System

The booth of Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is seen during a press preview at the International Motor Show (IAA), in Munich, Germany, Sept. 6, 2021. (AFP)
The booth of Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is seen during a press preview at the International Motor Show (IAA), in Munich, Germany, Sept. 6, 2021. (AFP)

Struggling to find a place to park your car? Not anymore! Your car will soon be able to automatically park itself in any parking lot thanks to a new system unveiled at the Munich Motor Show. According to its developers, the system is "ready" to be deployed.

"This step does not require the driver intervention anymore," said Robert Exler, responsible for the "automatic valet" system at Bosch, according to AFP.

There is no need to wait for self-driving cars to become ubiquitous to use this system that consists of cameras and sensors that direct the car and helps it avoid obstacles.

The new technique was demonstrated during the IAA Motor Show in Munich. Other demonstrations featured cars from several brands such as Mercedes, Ford, and Audi that stopped to allow pedestrians to pass, or to avoid a can in one of the show's parking lots.

The cameras within the lot present "an external view on the exterior of the vehicle to see if any hazards are approaching," explained Exler.

Bosch started the development of the new system in 2015. It relies on a connection that links the cameras with the remotely controlled vehicle to accelerate or decelerate its speed or to move it back without the driver's intervention.



Lucid Joins 'Made in Saudi' Program

Lucid is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the automotive sector to receive this distinguished logo - SPA
Lucid is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the automotive sector to receive this distinguished logo - SPA
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Lucid Joins 'Made in Saudi' Program

Lucid is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the automotive sector to receive this distinguished logo - SPA
Lucid is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the automotive sector to receive this distinguished logo - SPA

Lucid Motors, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has joined the Made in Saudi program, earning the right to use the "Made in Saudi" logo on its products, a symbol of quality, excellence, and customer trust reflecting the Kingdom's dedication to establishing itself as a global leader in innovative manufacturing.
Lucid is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the automotive sector to receive this distinguished logo. This feat underscores Lucid's ability to produce world-class electric vehicles with Saudi expertise and highlights its role in advancing the Kingdom's automotive industry.
In a statement, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef emphasized that Lucid's inclusion in the Made in Saudi program as the first car manufacturer to feature the "Made in Saudi" logo signifies the Kingdom's strategic transformation towards establishing a comprehensive ecosystem for the electric vehicle sector.

According to SPA, this aligns with the objectives of the National Industrial Strategy, which focuses on empowering key sectors and attracting high-quality investments in advanced industries.
Alkhorayef emphasized that Saudi Arabia has become a key center for producing electric vehicles, supported by modern infrastructure, attractive incentives, and a skilled workforce. He stressed that the presence of major companies like Lucid bolster the Kingdom's position as a global hub for future industries, boosting local content, non-oil exports, and knowledge transfer.
The ministry is committed to creating an investment environment that supports leading companies and enables them to contribute to industrial transformation and innovation, in line with the Kingdom's vision for a sustainable future driven by modern technologies, he added.
Lucid's inclusion in the Made in Saudi program, overseen by the Saudi Export Development Authority, aligns with the program's goals to enhance the appeal of the Saudi industrial sector, boost local product consumption, drive local and foreign investments, support local companies in expanding globally, increase Saudi non-oil exports, and promote economic sustainability.