Proton cars will eventually see an integration of Smart Parking into their ATLAS-powered in-car head unit (IHU) in the near future. This is made possible through a recently signed memorandum of collaboration (MoC) between the app’s creator HeiTech Padu Bhd (HPB) and the operating system‘s developer ACO Tech Sdn Bhd.
For the uninitiated, HPB originally launched the Smart Parking app back in August 2019, exclusive to the state of Penang. Designed to replace coupon-based parking systems, it is the first of its kind to leverage mobile and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies in Malaysia. The app allows road users in Penang to seek available spots at supported parking lots, as well as conduct payments online directly via a mobile device. The company later launched Smart Parking in Kulim, Kedah in September of last year.
Suffice to say, this collaboration will soon enable users of applicable Proton cars to access all of the convenient features offered by the system from their IHU. However, it appears that the ATLAS version of Smart Parking will only work in Penang once it rolls out, at least according to HPB president and executive deputy chairman Datuk Sri Mohd Hilmey Mohd Taib.
“We are confident that integrating the Penang Smart Parking system into Proton cars will be a game-changer for the automotive industry in Malaysia,” he said in a statement. “The smart parking solutions are our contribution to the smart mobility component of the Malaysian Smart City Framework (MSCF), which is aligned with our vision of empowering local councils to become smart cities.”
Apart from Smart Parking, HPB has developed other smart solutions that provide local councils with tools to manage tax and rental collection, effective and efficient communication channels, reduced over-the-counter services operations, enhanced delivery of bills and statements as well as promote tourist attractions. Mohd Hilmey added that the company has ventured into the cybersecurity field, offering “enterprise-based solutions that are customised to suit the respective safety requirements of any organisation.”
Meanwhile, in case you’re wondering, ACO Tech’s ATLAS platform is featured in the current generation Proton Persona, Iriz and Exora, as well as the X50, X70 and the newly launched X90. Neither companies have revealed when the Smart Parking integration is expected to be released for the operating system at this time.
(Source: New Straits Times / Penang Smart Parking)
