HL Group announced on October 8 its intention to acquire the French robotic parking company Stanley Robotics, a significant move within the growing autonomous parking market. The acquisition will be carried out through HL Robotics, a subsidiary established by HL Group in September.
Stanley Robotics is recognized as the first company to commercialize parking robots, having introduced its autonomous parking robot, ‘Stan,’ at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport in 2018. ‘Stan’ utilizes digital twin technology and a fleet management system (FMS) to autonomously park vehicles without spatial constraints, establishing the company as a leader in the autonomous parking sector.
In September 2023, Stanley Robotics reinforced its market position by signing a parking robot subscription contract with Canadian National Railway, one of North America’s leading rail logistics companies. This contract highlights the increasing demand for autonomous parking solutions in various sectors.
The global autonomous parking robot market is on a growth trajectory, with projections estimating it will reach approximately $6.7 billion by 2030, reflecting double-digit annual growth. HL Group’s acquisition of Stanley Robotics aims to leverage this expanding market.
“We plan to expand our business portfolio to focus on robot businesses that bring us closer to the public, beyond just the parking robot business,” stated a representative from HL Group. This indicates HL Group’s objective to integrate robotic technologies into various aspects of daily life.
The acquisition of Stanley Robotics is expected to strengthen HL Group’s position in the autonomous parking market. By utilizing Stanley Robotics’ technology and expertise, HL Group aims to contribute to further developments in autonomous solutions, potentially creating new opportunities within the industry.