Self-parking cars are nothing new, since companies like VW and Toyota have already been offering such systems on certain models. However most drivers face a more serious problem in modern cities: actually finding a parking space, preferably as near as possible to their destination.

A prototype version of BMW’s ConnectedDrive navigation system that was presented during BMW Group Innovation Days and which has been under development for the past three years, includes a new micro-navigation technology that promises to provide a solution to this problem.

The system guides the driver to the nearest available parking garage providing accurate information stored in its micro-maps and all this without the use of GPS. In addition, all information can be relayed to the driver’s mobile device so he or she can find the precise location of the car upon return.

This is just one of the technologies explored by BMW for future application in the next generations of its cars. Other examples include laser lighting, in-car gesture recognition and LTE high-speed mobile connectivity.

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