27 October 2021, Shanghai, China
Honda drivers in China will be the first to find nearby available parking via voice assistance, and pay for their parking via integrated services, as Parkopedia partners with telematics technology firm, MXNavi. The new partnership will allow the automaker to provide industry-leading parking and payment solutions as part of its latest generation Honda CONNECT infotainment system.
Honda will be the first automaker in China to integrate Parkopedia’s parking payment service directly into the vehicle head unit, allowing drivers to find parking nationwide and pay for parking at more than 6,000 parking locations.
Honda drivers will be able to pay for their parking via in-car express parking services, or through in-vehicle QR codes that are displayed on the infotainment screen. By scanning the code with their smartphone, drivers can seamlessly pay for parking with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Number plate recognition then enables seamless entry and exit for drivers.
Honda CONNECT 3.0 will be installed in new models in China, debuting in the recently launched 11th generation of the Honda Civic and new Accord models, enabling software over-the-air updates (SOTA), voice recognition technology and an AI intelligent assistant. By incorporating Parkopedia’s patented dynamic parking space availability service, the in-vehicle intelligent voice assistant is able to provide drivers with parking recommendations near their destination that are likely to be available at their estimated time of arrival.
Hans Puvogel, COO at Parkopedia, commented: “We are delighted to partner with MXNavi to bring Parkopedia’s dynamic parking via voice assistance and payment services for the first time to Honda drivers in China. Our combined market-leading connected vehicle management solutions allow us to ensure automakers provide drivers with seamless parking user experiences.”
Sun Huaming, General Manager of the Connected Navigation Division of MXNavi, commented: “MXNavi is committed to providing drivers with a smart travel experience. By cooperating with Parkopedia, the leading connected car parking services provider, we reduce parking stress for drivers and create a seamless and convenient user experience as part of our digital connected services in the vehicle."
Parkopedia is partnering with a growing number of parking operators across China, helping them to reach their customers easily and providing comprehensive parking solutions for drivers. Parkopedia can either provide a deeply integrated direct payment experience using license plate recognition and automated payments with Alipay and WeChat Pay or display payment QR codes in the car for frictionless payments.