Press Releases

• APCOA opens its car parks as Urban Hubs to provide the physical and digital infrastructure for strategic partners in mobility, electrification, logistics and on-demand services.
• With the strategic expansion of its product portfolio, APCOA forms an integrated ecosystem of Smart City and Smart Mobility services and actively contributes to the sustainable transformation of urban areas and the reduction of CO2 emissions
• APCOA sees substantial revenue potential by opening its more than 1.5 million parking spaces and over 1.9 million sqm available logistics space for urban logistics, mobility, electric charging infrastructure and technology services
• Real estate owners benefit from embedding their properties in the digital urban ecosystem and gain access to APCOA's exclusive network of partners
• APCOA's strategic partners include Bosch, BVG, Daimler, E.ON, HERE Technologies, Sixt and UFO Drive amongst others

Stuttgart, 19. February 2021 - APCOA PARKING (APCOA), Europe's leading parking space operator, has launched APCOA URBAN HUBS to create an integrated ecosystem for the future-ready and sustainable use of parking spaces. To develop and implement their own business models, strategic partners get access to the physical and digital infrastructure of APCOA. Customers on the other hand, benefit from an expanded range of innovative services and products. Lastly, the asset values of real estate owners are enhanced by higher frequencies due to a wide range of additional use cases based on APCOA's strong network of strategic partners.

"The digital and on-demand economy, especially in the field of mobility and logistics, needs a physical basis and a smart and flexible infrastructure. With more than 11,000 sites we have created Europe's largest network of digitally connected car parks. Our hubs combine parking with logistics and technology services, shared mobility platforms and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles - and are already making a major contribution to creating the Smart Cities of the future", explains Philippe Op de Beeck, CEO of APCOA PARKING Group.

Under the APCOA URBAN HUBS brand, APCOA is extending the functionality of its car parking facilities, integrating them into a dedicated digital ecosystem based on the company's proprietary digital platform, APCOA FLOW. All car parks are thereby transformed into potential hubs for a broad range of sustainable services. The company's initial focus is on multi-storey car parks in inner-city areas. These locations offer the greatest potential for improving the efficiency of last-mile logistics, reducing inner-city logistics traffic and, as a result, achieving substantial reductions in CO2 emissions. By increasing the provision of electric charging infrastructure, APCOA URBAN HUBS also actively support the mobility transition to electric mobility. City dwellers and commuters without own parking space or charging station will find a suitable offer in APCOA's URBAN HUBS. Only with a guaranteed access to this infrastructure the purchase of an electric vehicle becomes appealing.

"Over the next few years, we want to continuously expand our network of several hundred APCOA URBAN HUBS throughout Europe. For car park owners, our expertise creates value by diversifying cash flows and enabling a sustainable strategy that has a positive impact on the long-term value of their assets. Currently, we are engaged in promising talks with a large number of potential partners. All of them appreciate our high location density and the fact that 230 million consumers are reachable around our properties in European city centres. Consequently, our current and potential partners are keen to take advantage of APCOA's advanced digital network to enhance their own business models", explains Op de Beeck. Currently, Bosch, BVG, Daimler, E.ON, HERE Technologies, Sixt and UFO Drive are amongst the strategic partners of APCOA.

The APCOA brand has long been synonymous with the consistent implementation of a comprehensive digital and innovation strategy. In 2018, the company launched APCOA FLOW, its multi-award-winning, scalable platform that provides its partners with integrated, contact-free access to inner-city car parks via individual interfaces. "As a result, we are very well positioned to meet the challenges associated with evolving parking space usage and the requirements of cities and municipalities. It is only by anticipating and actively helping to shape fundamental economic and societal processes that we will be able to successfully adapt to and benefit from these changes", says Op de Beeck.

Urban Hubs is APCOA's answer to some of the greatest trends of this day and age: the significant growth of online and on-demand commerce, which drives demand for inner-city logistics space, increasing urbanisation and the rise of electric mobility.

• Car park with spaces for 17,000 vehicles
• Ticketless drop-off zone with innovative number plate recognition system
• State-of-the-art taxi rank with dedicated taxi driver app
• Management of more than 2,500 luggage trolleys at 113 stations

Stuttgart/Berlin, 05 November 2020 - APCOA PARKING Deutschland GmbH, Europe's largest parking lot operator, has celebrated the launch of services at the newly inaugurated Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). APCOA's on-site teams are managing the airport's multi-storey car parks, outdoor parking areas and parking control centre. APCOA is also responsible for taxi and baggage trolley management.

The new BER airport has 17,000 car parking spaces for visitors, travellers, airport employees and car-sharing providers at Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 (formerly Berlin Schönefeld Airport). This is equivalent to 25 football pitches spread over 35 parking levels. From the state-of-the-art parking control centre, APCOA employees are able to monitor all of the airport's parking facilities and pay machines, control well over 100 barriers and oversee all aspects of the car parks' innovative parking technology. They are also available to provide immediate customer service on site.

"The opening of BER airport marks yet another major milestone in our company's fifty-year history. We are delighted to have been appointed to manage parking facilities and provide a wide range of additional services, not only here, but also at more than 60 airports across Europe. We have already established a very close relationship with the airport's operating company, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (FBB), which is certainly important, especially in these particularly challenging times. Now we are expecting the first passengers and for the use of our facilities to accelerate rapidly once the Covid-19 pandemic is back under control", says Philippe Op de Beeck, CEO of APCOA PARKING Group.

10 free minutes for drop-off and pick-up With its automatic number plate recognition system (ANPR), the airport has the most technologically advanced terminal access road in Germany. A particular benefit of ANPR is that it enables ticketless parking in the 650-metre drop-off/pick-up zones. Cameras automatically recognise vehicles' number plates and open the barrier for them. The system gives drivers ten free minutes to drop off passengers. If they choose to stay longer, they can pay quickly and conveniently by entering their number plate at the payment machine.

Alternatively, customers in the P1, P3, P7 and P8 car parks can also use the APCOA FLOW parking app, which enhances the entire parking experience on a number of levels. APCOA FLOW recognises users via their cars' personalised RFID chips and automatically manages the entire parking process. There is no need to take a ticket when entering the parking lot and no need to queue at a ticket machine either; payments are processed via the method specified by the user in the app. APCOA FLOW allows users to enjoy contactless and cashless parking.

"We are convinced that we will overcome the challenges facing the travel and parking industries together. Against this background, we couldn't be more delighted that Berlin Brandenburg Airport has now opened", explains Hansjörg Votteler, Managing Director of APCOA PARKING Germany. "With our comprehensive portfolio of services, APCOA offers everything to make travelling as convenient and easy as possible. This, combined with its employees' extensive airport parking management experience, are what make APCOA such a strong partner for FBB".

Guests who want to park their vehicles in the airport's long-stay car parks can also book their parking spaces in advance online at https://ber.berlin-airport.de/. The online booking service is managed by APCOA and offers favourable conditions and regular discounts. The system also allows drivers to amend their bookings at no extra cost. APCOA offers day parking spaces from as little as EUR 19.00. Holidaymakers can park at BER for as little as EUR 29.00 per week. This offer is valid for bookings made by 30 November 2020 and for parking until the end of March 2021.

Intelligent taxi management
APCOA is also responsible for managing taxi traffic at BER Airport so that guests can arrive and depart with the maximum comfort and convenience. BER has taxi ranks at Terminals 1 and 5, which together provide space for 750 taxis and three loading zones. "Over the years, FBB has entrusted APCOA to manage taxi traffic at all Berlin airports. With our fully automated system - in conjunction with the new TMSpro app for taxi drivers - we are now also ensuring the seamless transport of guests at BER", says Votteler.

The system optimises taxi traffic and saves time, creating numerous benefits for both travellers and taxi drivers. Transponders installed in individual taxis guarantee that taxis arrive and leave the taxi ranks as and when they are needed, thereby reducing overall traffic volumes at the airport. Taxi drivers are able to park their cars in waiting zones - the system registers the time of arrival via their transponder and ID number. The taxis are then summoned to the rank when they are required. The system is also set up to efficiently manage special requests, such as for large taxis or taxis with child seats. Via displays in waiting lounges, the TMS website and the new TMSpro app (available for iOS and Android), taxi drivers can keep an eye on all ranks, including details of forecast waiting times.

Baggage trolley management takes the strain out of travelling
Managing baggage trolley traffic and ensuring that travellers have the trolleys they need, where they need them depends on having the right infrastructure in place. "For us, baggage trolley management is a flagship service and direct reflection of customer satisfaction and service quality at the airport. Our highly efficient service is based on strategic planning and effective organisation", says Votteler. APCOA employees manage up to 2,600 baggage trolleys at 113 stations, including 3 platforms, depending on flight schedules. The extensive baggage trolley management experience APCOA has amassed at Berlin Schönefeld (SXF) and Berlin Tegel (TXL) airports will allow the company to coordinate the 650 trolleys in the arrival zone alone.

"Our contract at BER gives us another great opportunity to further cement APCOA's status as a leader in serving Europe's major airports. I am extremely proud of my teams and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the project for their hard work and enormous commitment over the weeks and months leading up to the airport's official opening", enthuses Hansjörg Votteler, Managing Director of APCOA PARKING Germany, as he reflects on the opening of the new Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport.

Supplementary information:
Photos for press publications must credit the author BER and the respective photographers: Günter Wicker and Ekaterina Zershchikova
Video on the ANPR system at the drop-off/pick-up zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywdm8VrP8t8 Link to TMSpro in the app stores

Your contact for additional information, expert interviews and any other enquiries
Britta Braig | Director Marketing
APCOA PARKING Deutschland GmbH
Luftfrachtzentrum 605/5 in 70629 Stuttgart
presse(at)apcoa.de

About APCOA PARKING Germany
APCOA PARKING Deutschland GmbH is based at Stuttgart Airport and manages more than 230,000 parking spaces at around 300 sites in more than 80 cities across Germany, including parking spaces in city centres and at airports, trade fairs, hotels and hospitals. In 2019, APCOA was recognised as the fairest company in the parking facility management industry by the leading magazine Focus Money.

APCOA's free parking app, APCOA FLOW, enhances the parking experience for consumers and business customers in over 200 selected car parks. The app's benefits include ticketless access and automatic billing, making queueing at pay machines a thing of the past. The app's users can also specify their preferred payment method and keep track of all of their parking transactions either in the app or via email. No more stretching for a ticket at the barrier, no more looking for change at the payment machine. For all fans of contactless parking, the app is available now in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Here's how it works:

• Download the free app for iOS or Android from the Apple App Store or Google Play
• Open the app, register and order your free chip card
• Find the most convenient car park in the app and enjoy an entirely new parking experience
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IttZsPeE980

Simply contact us and we'll send you a free promotional code to test the app.

• In the future, a command from a smartphone will tell cars where to park in Stuttgart Airport's P6 parking garage.
• The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is equipped with the technology to enable driverless, fully automated parking (SAE Level 4¹).
• For AVP, Bosch is using camera-based infrastructure for the first time to detect lanes and obstacles.
• The parking garage operator Apcoa is testing barrier and payment functions as the basis for automated valet parking, enabled by its APCOA FLOW digital mobility platform.

12 October 2020

APCOA PARKING (APCOA), Europe's leading parking space operator, has launched APCOA URBAN HUBS to create an integrated ecosystem for the innovative and sustainable use of parking spaces. While APCOA's strategic partners benefit from being able to access the physical infrastructure and digital services they need to further develop their business models, APCOA PARKING's customers benefit from an expanded range of innovative services and products. With APCOA serving as the central interface between individual, intermodal mobility and Smart City concepts, in combination with APCOA's strong network of strategic partners, real estate owners also benefit by sustainably enhancing the value of their assets.

Automated parking to drive down the airport stress: Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and the parking garage operator Apcoa want to introduce driverless and fully automated parking at Stuttgart airport in the future. To this end, the automated valet parking (AVP) system co-developed by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz is to be made ready for commercial operation. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is already geared up to accommodate it as the world's first production vehicle to feature the technology required for future infrastructure-based AVP. As an option, customers can buy the appropriate pre-installation for what the company calls the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, which makes the S-Class capable of receiving a smartphone command to drive itself to a reserved parking space. "With the new S-Class, it's not just driving that's a luxury, but parking as well," says Dr. Michael Hafner, head of automated driving at Mercedes-Benz AG. The P6 parking garage at Stuttgart airport will serve as the pilot for the planned commercial automated parking service. Here, the companies will test how the vehicle technology onboard the S-Class interacts with the intelligent Bosch infrastructure and APCOA FLOW, the digital platform provided by the parking garage operator Apcoa.

This platform makes the whole parking process ticketless and cashless. "Apcoa, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and Stuttgart airport want to work together to make parking fully automatic," says Christoph Hartung, member of the executive management of Connected Mobility Solutions at Bosch. In the airport parking garage, preparations are currently underway to begin piloting the planned automated valet parking service. The aim of this trial with new S-Class vehicles at Stuttgart airport is to ensure that interactions between the vehicle, infrastructure technology, and parking garage operator run smoothly and are optimized for the customer.

World's first Level 4 park function in a production vehicle In July 2019, Bosch and Mercedes-Benz received the world's first special permit to operate AVP for selected E-Class vehicles without a safety driver in real-life, mixed parking garage traffic at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Equipped with the appropriate pre-installation for the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is now the first production vehicle to feature AVP technology, which enables it to park without a driver. However, this is conditional on the future availability of parking garages with the appropriate infrastructure, as well as on national legislators giving AVP the green light. This makes the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the world's first vehicle to feature a pre-installation for an SAE Level 4 automated driving function, the second-highest level of automation. "With automated valet parking, Mercedes-Benz is demonstrating that driverless parking will soon be possible," Hafner says.

To facilitate this new one-touch parking function, a spacious drop-off and pick-up area will be set up directly behind the entrance to the P6 parking garage, giving AVP users a convenient place to leave their vehicles. As they comfortably make their way to the terminal and check in, their S-Class will park itself in the basement, guided by information from the infrastructure technology. In other words, users no longer need to worry about maneuvering or having to squeeze out of their cars when the space they have finally found proves to be too narrow. "Automated valet parking really enhances our passengers' comfort and convenience and saves them time, especially when they're in a hurry and just want to drop their car off quickly at the airport", says Walter Schoefer, management spokesman for Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH. For the test phase that is about to start, P6 will initially have two spaces available for self-parking vehicles. More spaces will be added when driverless parking becomes standard as planned in the future and as demand increases.

Intelligent infrastructure and digital platforms
The pilot parking garage at Stuttgart airport will be a premiere for new Bosch video cameras that can identify vacant parking spaces, monitor the driving aisle and its surroundings, and detect obstacles or people in the aisle. Until now, lidar sensors have been used for this purpose. A dedicated control center in the parking garage then calculates the route the vehicles need to take to reach an available space. "Our intelligent parking garage infrastructure forms the basis for the future of driverless parking," Hartung says. Thanks to the information that the cameras provide, it is also possible for cars to drive themselves around the parking garage - even on narrow ramps, enabling them to move between different stories. The in-vehicle technology autonomously converts the information from the infrastructure into driving maneuvers. If the cameras detect an unexpected obstacle, for example, the vehicle safely performs an emergency stop.

APCOA FLOW, the parking garage operator Apcoa's digital platform, will also play a key role in driverless parking at Stuttgart airport. Drivers are already using the platform to help lighten the burden of parking. This ranges from making firm reservations for a parking space, to contactless entry into the parking garage, and to fully automated payment, invoicing, and contactless exit. The system recognizes the customer's vehicle and the barriers open automatically, making a ticket and trip to the ticket machine redundant. "We want to be the first parking garage operator to fully support and enable automated parking services based on AVP technology in one of our parking garages," says Frank van der Sant, chief commercial officer at Apcoa Parking Holdings GmbH.

More vehicles, more parking garages
A vehicle drop-off and collection service saves time and avoids long walks to the car: once parking garages are equipped with the appropriate infrastructure and national laws permit AVP, customers will be able to enjoy driverless parking services. Bosch and Mercedes-Benz are paving the way for this with the world's first infrastructure-based solution for SAE Level 4 automated valet parking in real-life, mixed parking garage traffic. Uniform standards and interfaces ensure smooth communication between the vehicles and infrastructure technology. In the future, Bosch's aim is to equip more and more parking garages with AVP infrastructure technology.

As Europe's largest parking garage operator, Apcoa also has a strategic interest in offering innovative premium services like AVP in more of its parking garages. "Looking ahead, we want to open up AVP to more customers at selected Apcoa locations," van der Sant says. The company manages approximately 1.5 million individual parking spaces at over 9,500 locations in 13 European countries. By increasing the availability of driverless and fully automated parking services, the same amount of space could accommodate up to 20 percent more vehicles. In addition, driverless parking is especially suitable for narrow, remote, and therefore unattractive parking areas that people would otherwise avoid.

¹ SAE-Level 4: The car can autonomously handle all traffic situations under certain conditions (e.g. on selected roads, not in all types of weather). No driver is required.

About APCOA PARKING Group
APCOA PARKING Group is Europe's leading parking operator with more than 45 years of industry expertise. With its 5,000 employees, the company manages approximately 1.4 million individual parking spaces at over 10,000 locations in 13 European countries. These include parking spaces at 1,800 city and shopping centre locations, 400 hotels, 150 hospitals and 58 European airports. With its consistent "asset light" business model, APCOA is the trusted partner who maximizes value for private and public real estate owners

Via its open digital platform APCOA FLOW, the company connects on-street and off-street car parks with clients, partners, customers and their vehicles. Based on this technology, APCOA is transforming its car parks into mobility hubs, offering innovative services that enable a more convenient mobility experience. The environment also benefits: with its digital services and intelligent Traffic Management System, the company actively contributes to the reduction of emissions in cities by decreasing the volume of traffic searching for parking. By connecting parking and mobility, APCOA is positioned to become an integral part of the Smart City.

Additional information: World first: Bosch and Daimler obtain approval for driverless parking without human oversight Bosch and Daimler demonstrate driverless parking in real-life conditions

Stuttgart, 9 October 2019 - Europe's leading parking operator, APCOA PARKING (APCOA), has completed the acquisition of the business of Nationwide Controlled Parking Services (NCPS), one of the biggest car park operators in Ireland, including subsidiaries PEA and Mobile Research Solutions, t/a parkbytext. NCPS manages over 1,100 car parks with a total number of over 100,000 car park spaces. Following approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) the acquisition was legally completed on 8 August 2019.

The combined operation resulting from the acquisition sees APCOA's business in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland double in size to cover more than 1,750 site locations and it will enable them to service all counties in both countries.

"We view this as a very exciting development for APCOA and NCPS as the companies complement each other well. This acquisition combines the strengths of the businesses across all sectors, markets and geographies and brings together two strong management teams with complementary skills and abilities", says Philippe Op De Beeck, CEO of APCOA PARKING Group.

In addition, with the financial backing of the APCOA group, the combined operation in Ireland benefits from increased opportunities for further investment in the business and technologies. With the joined expertise and customer base across both countries, the acquisition makes APCOA a leading mobile parking operator providing convenient, cashless and cost-effective payment options to nearly 200,000 parking customers.

During the integration process day-to-day operations continue as at present. APCOA and NCPS will continue to focus on providing the highest levels of customer service.

APCOA's existing business in Northern Ireland operated a number of sites including two city centre multi storey car parks in Belfast city centre. The NCPS subsidiary PEA brings a further c. 80 locations, primarily in the greater Belfast area with key sites such as the iconic Titanic Quarter, numerous NHS hospitals and Trusts and the Odyssey Event Centre.

APCOA sees this investment as strengthening their position in Ireland and providing a platform for increased growth. "APCOA and NCPS both view this as a real opportunity to broaden the strength of our services to our clients in Ireland and to improve our capabilities by bringing together the best knowledge, systems and operational experience and practice", says Op De Beeck.

Already in the beginning of May APCOA bought Onepark A/S in Denmark one of the country's leading parking operators with 170 employees operating about 600 parking sites with 50,500 parking spaces. With OnePark, APCOA was able to expand the number of contracts by 540 and is now the market leader in Denmark. The two companies are already fully integrated and have moved into a new Head Office.

Contact:

APCOA PARKING Holdings GmbH
Sebastian Merkle
Flughafenstr. 34
70624 Stuttgart-Airport
T: +49 711-94791-100

About APCOA PARKING Group

APCOA PARKING Group is Europe's leading parking operator with more than 45 years of industry expertise. With its 5,000 employees, the company manages approximately 1.5 million individual parking spaces at over 9,500 locations in 13 European countries. These include parking spaces at 1,800 city and shopping center locations, 400 hotels, 150 hospitals and 58 European airports. With its consistent "asset light" business model, APCOA is the trusted partner who maximizes value for private and public real estate owners.

Via its open digital platform APCOA FLOW, the company connects on-street and off-street car parks with clients, partners, customers and their vehicles. Based on this technology, APCOA is transforming its car parks into mobility hubs, offering innovative services that enable a more convenient mobility experience. The environment also benefits: with its digital services and intelligent Traffic Management System, the company actively contributes to the reduction of emissions in cities by decreasing the volume of traffic searching for parking. By connecting parking and mobility, APCOA is positioned to become an integral part of the Smart City.