Audi has developed a system that enables parcels to be placed in the boot of a vehicle in an attempt to cut out items being returned to a depot when the recipient is out.
Co-developed with logistics company DHL and online retail giant Amazon, the system, dubbed Audi connect easy, operates through temporary authorisation for keyless access to a car’s boot.
The German car maker said that in the future customers would be able to enter their Audi as the shipping address for online orders. DHL, Audi and Amazon will trial the service in Munich this month under what it calls “real conditions”.
The DHL driver handling the parcel is given a digital access code for the boot of a customer’s car. The code can be used once for a specific period of time and expires as soon as the luggage compartment has been closed.
“With comprehensive connectivity, we are transforming the car into a service device and integrating it even more closely into the everyday lives of our customers,” said Luca de Meo, member of the board of management for sales at Audi. “Audi connect easy delivery helps save time and offers more convenience and flexibility – advantages that are increasingly important for the target group of a premium brand.”
