LEPAS spotlights smart parking tech at global lifestyle week

LEPAS showcased its EPA and Super Intelligent Valet Parking systems to more than 300 test-drive ambassadors during its first Global Elegant Lifestyle Week in Wuhu, China, from Oct. 18-24. The demonstrations highlighted automated parking, remote vehicle retrieval and other features aimed at making everyday mobility easier.

Why it matters: - LEPAS is positioning smart parking as a practical answer to one of driving’s most frustrating problems: tight spaces, hard-to-reach exits and time spent circling parking lots. - The demonstrations show how automated parking and remote call-up features could reduce hassle in daily use, especially in crowded urban and holiday settings. - LEPAS is also using the event to reinforce its broader push around elegant mobility and premium NEV positioning.

What happened: - LEPAS held its first Global Elegant Lifestyle Week in Wuhu, China, from Oct. 18-24. - More than 300 Test Drive Ambassadors from around the world attended driving activities built around everyday use cases. - The event included dedicated demonstrations of EPA and Super Intelligent Valet Parking, or SIVP. - Participants tested the systems on the LEPAS L8 PHEV in realistic parking scenarios.

The details: - EPA lets the driver select and confirm a parking space on the vehicle screen before getting out. - The vehicle then parks itself and locks automatically, which avoids squeezing out of a tight space. - José Planelles, a test-drive ambassador from Borjamotor in Spain, said the automatic parking made the biggest impression and worked very well. - SIVP is designed to do more than park the car. - The system helps users find open spaces and retrieve their vehicles. - SIVP is intended only for use within designated, enclosed parking areas. - The system combines digital mapping, parking-facility navigation and optimized sensor fusion to improve environmental awareness. - Users can summon the car through a smartphone app. - The vehicle can drive from its parking spot to a shaded pickup point such as a hotel entrance or home entrance. - Drivers can also drop the car at the entrance of a parking facility and let it find a space and park on its own. - During busy periods, including holidays, the system can navigate the parking area to look for open spaces. - Ambassadors praised the system’s ability to assess surroundings and make parking decisions. - Participants also pointed to everyday convenience, including calling the car after shopping to avoid carrying heavy bags across a parking lot. - LEPAS also offers Automatic Parking Assist, or APA, and Remote Parking Assist, or RPA, for other parking situations and user needs. - A disclaimer in the release says all of the parking functions described are parking-assistance features and that the driver must remain aware of the vehicle and surroundings.

Between the lines: - The event was not just a product demo. It was a brand-building exercise aimed at showing that LEPAS wants to tie software, convenience and premium identity together. - By focusing on real-world parking pain points, LEPAS is trying to make advanced driver-assistance features feel immediately useful rather than abstract. - The emphasis on enclosed parking areas and driver supervision also signals that these systems are assistance tools, not fully autonomous replacements.

What's next: - LEPAS is likely to keep expanding its smart-parking lineup alongside EPA, SIVP, APA and RPA as it builds out its elegant mobility message. - The brand said the week gave guests a clearer sense of the convenience behind its vision for elegant mobility. - LEPAS continues to expand internationally through a global dealer network of more than 500 sales and service locations. - Under the theme “TOGETHER IN ELEGANCE,” the company is using the Wuhu gathering to bring together first owners, partners and media from around the world.

The bottom line: - LEPAS is betting that easier parking can be a compelling entry point for its premium EV pitch, turning a daily annoyance into a proof point for its technology strategy.