Tag Archives for: BMW

 Ficosa and Panasonic to provide co-developed Interior rear-view mirror with electronic toll collection for new BMW X5 in Japan 

March 26, 2019

 

 

 

Ficosa and Panasonic to provide co-developed Interior rear-view mirror with electronic toll collection for new BMW X5 in Japan 

 

 

For this system, Panasonic develops electronic toll collection (ETC) 2.0 with wireless communication technology while Ficosa is in charge of the mirror technology 

This vision solution will be developed and produced between Japan (Panasonic) and Spain (Ficosa) 

 

 

 Ficosa, a top-tier global provider devoted to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of high-technology vision, safety, connectivity and efficiency systems for the automotive and mobility sectors, and Panasonic announced an agreement with BMW to provide their co-developed Interior rear-view mirror with electronic toll collection (ETC) 2.0 for the new X5 model in Japan. 

 

The ETC 2.0 Interior rear-view mirror, which includes an improved built-in unit for motorway tolls automatic payment, has been selected by the German manufacturer as a standard in Japan for its new BMW X5, which was released there on February 27th of this year. This vision solution will be developed and produced between Japan (Panasonic) and Barcelona, Spain (Ficosa). 

For this new product generation, which follows previous successful launch of co-developed electronic rear-view mirrors and telematics control units, Panasonic develops ETC wireless communication technology while Ficosa is in charge of the mirror technology. 

In this regard, this solution, which integrates the ETC 2.0 module into the mirror, prevents the unit from obstructing the driver’s view and makes fully inserted card to be difficult to be seen from outside thanks to its card slot located at the side of the mirror. 

A solution that integrates the know-how of Ficosa and Panasonic 

Intended for the Japanese market, this rearview mirror allows to manage the payment of highway tolls due to the integration of an electronic toll system with credit card. In that sense, the mirror has a slot to insert the credit card and incorporates a small screen at the top that reports the amount to be paid. Mercedes Pujol, Director of the Rearview Mirror Systems Business Unit at Ficosa, explains “this additional functionality goes beyond the simple payment, as the mirror communicates with the toll station and is able to transmit this information to the navigation system of the vehicle, complementing the communication vehicle-infrastructure (V2I)”. 

Ficosa and Panasonic will continue to move forward with their collaborations to expand their line-up and sales of jointly developed products for OEMs. 

Press release 

About Ficosa 

Ficosa is a global company devoted to the creation of high-technology vision, safety, efficiency and connectivity solutions for the industry, with the desire to contribute to society through our commitment to technological innovation, human values and energy efficiency. Founded in 1949 and based in Barcelona, Ficosa currently has more than 10,500 employees in 19 countries worldwide in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, with consolidated sales of €1.208 billion in 2017. The rear-view system (interior/side mirror) is Ficosa’s main business, known worldwide and recognised by top global OEMs. www.ficosa.com. 

About Panasonic 

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 591 subsidiaries and 88 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of Euro 61.4 billion for the year ended March 31, 2018. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global. 

For more 

Parkmobile Announces Major Investment by BMW Group

January 16, 2018

 

 

 

Parkmobile Announces Major Investment by BMW Group

 

 

BMW’s investment in Parkmobile, LLC to help drive continued expansion and innovation throughout North America

 

 

Atlanta, GA, January 16, 2018 — Parkmobile, LLC, the leading provider of mobile parking solutions in North America, announced today a recapitalization of the business and investment by BMW Group.  Through this transaction, Parkmobile has consolidated its shareholder base and gained access to significant capital that will be used to accelerate growth and innovation.  BMW Group, which had been a minority investor in Parkmobile since 2014, will now be the sole outside investor after buying out the legacy shareholders in the business.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This announcement comes on the heels of a successful 2017 for Parkmobile that saw the company continue to expand in North America and achieve record growth. Below are some of the highlights from the past twelve months.

  • Record year-over-year revenue growth
  • Processed over 50 million parking transactions in North America, a 50% year-over-year increase
  • Surpassed 8 million registered users
  • Added 216,000 new parking spots, bringing the total inventory to over 1 million
  • Launched parking reservations into the Parkmobile app, delivering the industry’s first solution to enable both on/off street parking and garage reservations into a single user experience
  • Expanded the Parkmobile network into over 75 new cities including New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix
  • Partnered with BMW to deliver the industry’s first fully-integrated in-car mobile parking solution
  • Received the Deloitte Fast 500 award recognizing the Fastest Growing Technology Companies in North America

“We are extremely proud of what the team has been able to accomplish over the past several years,” said Jon Ziglar, CEO of Parkmobile, LLC.  “This new investment by BMW Group clearly validates our leadership position in the industry and our future growth potential. We have been working closely with the BMW Group organization over the past several years and we share a common vision for the future of transportation and frictionless consumer mobility. With this recapitalization, Parkmobile has consolidated its shareholder base and gained the capital needed to accelerate product innovation and expand the footprint of the Parkmobile network.  BMW has always been a leader identifying and supporting next generation mobility solutions and we really could not ask for a better partner.”

 

 

“Parkmobile LLC has established itself as the leader in digital parking solutions in North America and is driving the industry forward. It perfectly complements our portfolio of innovative mobility services”, said Bernhard Blaettel, Vice President Mobility Services at BMW Group and member of the Parkmobile Board. “Jon and his team are the type of company we want to partner with and we look forward to working with them to scale the business.”

 

About Parkmobile

 

Parkmobile, LLC is the leading provider of parking solutions in North America, helping millions of people easily find and pay for parking on their mobile device. The company’s technology is used in over 3000 locations across the country, including 7 of the top 10 cities as well as college campuses, airports and stadiums.  People can use Parkmobile solutions to quickly pay for on-street and garage parking without having to use a meter or kiosk.  Additionally, Parkmobile offers parking reservations at stadium venues for concerts and sporting events. Reservations are also available in metro areas, allowing people to drive into the city without having to worry about finding parking.  Parkmobile was recently named by Deloitte as a Technology Fast 500 winner, recognizing the fastest growing technology companies in North America. For more information, visit Parkmobile.com or @Parkmobile on Twitter.