(image via: Hoax Slayer)
The CarTowers is a 20-story tall car storage tower in Wolfsburg, Germany. It’s owned & operated by Volkswagen, which explains why all the cars – around 800 at full capacity – are VWs. The CarTowers has often been used to illustrate public parking garages of the future even though it’s a private endeavor that merely allows VW to save space.
(image via: Schreibtnix)
Built of steel and glass, the CarTowers is just one part of the Autostadt, a unique, “Car World” style attraction that includes a variety of car-related attractions. Visitors who fork over a few Euros get to enjoy The TurmFahrt (or CarTower Discovery, though I prefer the German name) and embark on the same trip a shiny new VW takes when slated for a slot in the CarTowers.
(image via: DayLife)
Certainly the footprint left by the CarTowers is much less than that of a standard car park, even multi-level parking garages such as those at airports. Without the winding ramps a tremendous amount of space can be saved. VW’s system should be workable for public lots though the expense may be prohibitive.
Dubai Robotic Carpark
(images via: Parking-Net and MSNBC)
The robotic carpark in Deira, Dubai (above) doesn’t have the storage space of the CarTowers (14 cars instead of 800) but it IS practical, workable and open for business. A 67-car capacity robot carpark in New York’s Chinatown works on the same principal.
Get (a) Smart – Shoehorn & Shoe Phone Optional
(image via: Smart.com)
Smart Cars, owned by Mercedes Benz, also have a space-saving storage system for their minuscule models. The see-through storage towers and stacked storage style plays on the “toy car” image Smart Cars have.
(images via: Smartfourm and Meine Smarte Welt)
It’s hard to see how the catchy displays at Smart Centers could be modified for commercial or even home use, unless the stack was installed in a pit and then raised & lowered to bring each car to ground level.
Automotive Stack & Rack
(image via: Jaiteh77)
We’re not sure where this parking garage is but from the graffiti and the size/shape of the license plates it may be somewhere in the USA. What isn’t obvious is how the cars on the upper levels got into their spaces… or, how they’re going to get out.
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