Is that parking spot just too tight to allow you to get into and out of your car? Do not worry, remote-control parking is here.
BMW South Africa (SA) has launched a remote control parking system that allows 7 Series owners to manoeuvre in or out of a garage or forward-parking space – without having to parallel- park, in other words, without anyone at the wheel.
The driver simply stands outside the car and initiates the vehicle’s progress moving into or reversing out of a parking space using the BMW display key.
While the car is carrying out the semiautomated manoeuvre, the driver keeps an eye on obstacles.
The vehicle will, however, also instantly brake should it detect an obstacle.
It requires a 40 cm distance between itself and obstacles, such as neighbouring vehicles, to park, with the car determining by itself if there is sufficient space to allow the manoeuvre.
The new BMW7 Series was launched in South Africa in January, with remote-control parking only now making its debut as an optional extra, with a price tag of R7 900.
From January to July this year, 303 BMW 7 Series models were delivered to local customers, compared with 47 units in the same seven months last year and 113 units in 2014.
The range comprises the 730d, 750Li, 740i and 750i models.
The 740e xDrive iPerformance active hybrid will make its debut in October.
The premium luxury 7 Series is BMW’s flagship range. Pricing starts at R1.38-million.
BMW SA group product communications manager Edward Makwana says the company hopes to hit the 400-unit sales mark by the end of the year, overshooting an initial target of 377 units. This comes despite dismal new- vehicle sales in the domestic market, with all indications that 2016 numbers will drop by around 10%, compared with last year.
Makwana says sales of vehicles in the upper luxury segment, such as the 6 Series or 7 Series, have remained fairly stable during the current downturn in the economy. However, models such as the 1 Series and 3 Series have been “more affected”.
Globally, more than 30 000 new BMW 7 Series models have been delivered to customers worldwide to date this year, with sales up by 40%, compared with the same period last year.
BMW SA has added a number of standard specifications on all of its BMW models produced from July, adds Makwana. Added standard specifications are a navigation system, ConnectedDrive Services, real-time traffic information and metallic paintwork.
BMW SA customers will also have access to the ConnectedDrive Store from this month. This will give customers the opportunity to view the existing BMW ConnectedDrive services and apps they currently have in their vehicles, with the opportunity to add, buy or renew services and apps.