Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website From the autumn, smart car drivers can test a new logistics service: smart car boot = parcel drop-off point
july 25, 2016 - Smart

From the autumn, smart car drivers can test a new logistics service: smart car boot = parcel drop-off point

Stuttgart #smart recently established the #smart lab as the brand's think tank to accelerate the development and implementation of creative urban mobility projects. 'smart ready to drop' is the first innovation to emerge from the lab. It is an innovative service that makes online shopping even easier. In cooperation with DHL Paket, #smart will enable parcels to be delivered to the boot of your car. The beta test will start in the autumn in Stuttgart, followed by Cologne, Bonn and Berlin a few months later. The service will eventually be offered in seven German cities. The #smart cars taking part in the beta test will be retrofitted with the required Connectivity Box at the dealership. From the autumn, the exclusive #smart fortwo ready to edition will come equipped with the Connectivity Box.

It's so easy to shop online: A click of the mouse and your order is placed, but delivery can be tricky if you're not at home. 'smart ready to drop' makes order delivery that much easier. All the #smart driver has to do is specify their car as the delivery address. The delivery driver will also pick up return parcels.

'smart ready to drop' further maximises the car's use especially in the city and offers a mobility concept that goes beyond driving. The beta test is the biggest in-car delivery test ever performed in Germany.

'"smart ready to drop" is the beginning of our next drive to further enhance the quality of urban life', says #smart boss Dr Annette Winkler. 'This is our way of staying true to our pioneering role in urban mobility. A lot of other services that make city life easier are also in the works.' For example, private car sharing.

smart established the #smart lab to accelerate the development and implementation of such creative urban mobility projects. The #smart lab is the brand's think tank. The easy-going and unconventional start-up mentality of the lab's creative employees is what enables this innovative platform to drive new mobility ideas.

Free retrofitting for beta testers

'smart ready to drop' has just made online shopping a whole lot easier. The parcels are delivered by DHL Paket. The delivery driver is given one-time keyless access to the boot of the drop-off car through a special app. The app was developed by #smart. Annette Winkler says: 'Our successful car2go car-sharing offer with over 1.9 million customers worldwide has enabled us to gain more experience with digital access systems than any other manufacturer. Security is, of course, our highest priority.'

'After successfully completing the in-car delivery pilot project last year in Germany, we are now using the know-how we gained with #smart to develop yet another attractive service for a young, internet-minded target group,' says Jürgen Gerdes, CEO Post - eCommerce - Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL Group.

'smart ready to drop' will be beta tested in the autumn in Stuttgart, followed by Cologne, Bonn and Berlin a few months later. Other cities will follow. With several hundred participants per city, smart’s goal is to gather experience in realistic conditions. A first field test with some 30 #smart drivers that lasted several months was successfully completed back in 2015.

smart drivers interested in taking part and who live in one of the mentioned cities can obtain more information from http://www.smart.com//drop and apply from September. Pilot testers will be rewarded with a free retrofit for their car, which will become a 'connected car' and ready to use other innovative services.

The future procedure for direct delivery of your parcels

'smart ready to drop' is #smartphone based: both the #smart car driver and the delivery driver use the special apps. After placing the order, the #smart customer generates a transaction number (TAN) in the app and enters it in the 'c/o' field of the delivery address. The app reminds the customer to park their car near their home address for delivery.

The app notifies the DHL driver of the desired delivery address. The driver uses the TAN to open the car within a specific time window. Similar to the car2go system, a Connectivity Box is installed inside the car at the bottom of the windscreen. New car buyers can order their #smart car from September with a pre-installed Connectivity Box (see below for details). The box can also be retrofitted at the dealership.

The DHL driver deposits the parcel in the boot and locks the car digitally; their access authorisation expires immediately. The app automatically notifies the #smart car driver of the successful delivery.

Exclusive edition available from September

From September 2016 the #smart fortwo ready to edition will be available from €15,930 (recommended retail price for Germany including 19% VAT). twinamic 6-speed dual clutch transmission, sat nav and live traffic are available as standard in this edition. The customer can select the paint finish and the wheels and configure their own personal #smart fortwo ready to edition by adding select optional extras.

The Connectivity Box can be retrofitted in the last generation of #smart fortwo models with combustion engines (C 451), the current #smart fortwo coupé and the #smart forfour.