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.



Saudi Arabia's Video Game Market Booms with over 2.4 Million Consoles Imported in Two Years

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir
A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir
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Saudi Arabia's Video Game Market Booms with over 2.4 Million Consoles Imported in Two Years

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir
A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir

Saudi Arabia's video game sector has seen remarkable growth in the past two years, with imports of video game consoles reaching over 2.4 million units in 2024 and 2025, according to data from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

In 2024, over 1.7 million units were imported, while 684,489 units have been imported so far in 2025. China, Japan, and the United States were the top suppliers, SPA reported.

The Saudi Internet Report 2024 from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission highlighted significant improvements in the digital infrastructure, including an 88% improvement in response time for popular video games. The report also detailed usage trends, showing that smart devices are the most used platform (24.2% of users), followed closely by PlayStation (23.8%).

PlayStation is the dominant platform for the 10-19 age group, while smart devices are preferred by older demographics. Whiteout Survival, Roblox, and Subway Surfers were the most downloaded mobile games.

The Esports World Cup, which is being held in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, reinforces the Kingdom's growing role as a global gaming hub. The event features over 2,000 players from more than 100 countries competing for prizes exceeding $70 million, solidifying Saudi Arabia's position in the global gaming and esports scene.