Johannes, what does our vision “The Future Car Park” really mean?
We are in the middle of a societal transformation where mobility is rapidly evolving. Electrification and digitalisation are reshaping how people and goods move — creating new opportunities, but also placing higher demands on infrastructure. As streets and public spaces are increasingly repurposed for other uses, parking garages become a critical building block in developing tomorrow’s sustainable mobility ecosystem.
For parking garages to take on the role of future mobility hubs, we must shift focus from static spaces to dynamic environments. This is where Mobility46 comes in. With our SaaS platform Park46 and our long-term vision “The Future Car Park,” we are driving the digital transformation of parking management.
But what does the concept actually mean? We sat down with Johannes Asp, Co-Founder and CEO of Mobility46, to explore the vision in depth.
What is “The Future Car Park”?
Already ten years ago, we identified mobility and EV charging as integral parts of parking management. Everything had to be connected — not handled in silos. That insight became the foundation for The Future Car Park.
To make the vision a reality, we needed a system capable of unifying all aspects of parking operations and enabling new service layers on top of the physical asset. That system became our Parking Management System. Today, it’s called Park46 — and it’s the core of everything we do.
“Once a garage becomes digital, the opportunities for new services are nearly endless.”
– Johannes Asp
How do you make The Future Car Park a reality?
Through technology — and by fully digitalising the parking environment. This includes the entire stack of hardware and software:
- Access control and perimeter security
- ANPR cameras
- EV chargers
- Mobile apps
- Admin interfaces
- Digital keys
- Open API integrations
The idea is simple — and widely agreed upon — but achieving it requires major shifts in infrastructure, workflows, and technology. The upside, however, is enormous:
higher NOI, more efficient operations, and a dramatically improved tenant experience.
Once the garage is digital, new revenue streams and mobility services can be layered on easily — either operated by the property owner or provided by third-party partners.
Where did the concept come from?
It actually came from an English article about how parking should evolve in the future. Their description aligned exactly with what we were already building. At the time, we needed a clear way to communicate what we meant by ‘moving from static spaces to dynamic areas. The Future Car Park became a powerful way to visualise our vision.
What does the vision mean for Mobility46?
It represents opportunity — and specifically the untapped potential within parking garages. It guides where we as a company are heading and what we want to create. It also serves as a blueprint for how garages can be used both commercially and spatially.
Parking has long been an overlooked asset. Compared to other parts of the real estate sector, parking lags far behind in digitalisation. The gap between today’s reality and The Future Car Park is huge — meaning there is a massive transformation ahead.
Traditional property systems are not built for the complexity of modern parking. With new mobility demands, a specialised Parking Management System is essential. Subscription-based parking must finally be brought into the modern age.
What is the next level of The Future Car Park?
Automation and energy will be two defining themes.
As vehicles become more autonomous, garages could become increasingly self-regulating. Cars and buildings will be able to communicate — optimising space allocation and automating the charging process.
And as the vehicle fleet electrifies, garages will take on an entirely new role: the next-generation fueling station.
Garages could also serve as energy storage hubs — using both vehicle batteries and dedicated hardware — potentially powered by locally produced renewable energy.
With open APIs, these systems can integrate seamlessly with the rest of the building.
When the idea first emerged a decade ago, it felt far away. But today, together with our customers, we are closer than ever. What started as a vision is becoming reality.
How long until autonomous vehicles, self-regulating garages and energy-storing car parks become the norm? We don’t know — but it’s likely sooner than we think.
“Less Human Intervention” — a fitting phrase to conclude our thoughts on the future of The Future Car Park.
Ready to take the next step towards The Future Car Park?
Do you want to know how to make the parking garage of the future a reality today? Get in touch and we'll show you how Park46 enables dynamic surfaces, increased profitability and new mobility services.
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