Core Viewpoint - The mechanical parking garage industry in China is facing significant challenges, with declining revenues and underutilization of existing facilities, despite initial optimism about their potential to alleviate urban parking shortages [2][4][5]. Industry Overview - The mechanical parking garage was initially seen as a solution to the urban parking crisis due to land scarcity and high costs associated with traditional parking lots [1][4]. - National policies have been established to encourage the development of mechanical parking systems, but practical implementation has not met expectations [1][4]. Company Performance - Five Yang Control's revenue from mechanical parking services has decreased from over 1 billion yuan in 2020 to 550 million yuan in 2024 [2][6]. - Sanpu Co., Ltd. reported a drop in mechanical parking-related sales from 160 million yuan in 2022 to 81.27 million yuan in 2024 [2][6]. - Dongjie Intelligent's revenue from smart mechanical parking systems has also seen a decline, with figures dropping from 150 million yuan in 2021 to just 406,240 yuan in 2024 [6][7]. Utilization Issues - Despite the construction of over 12,000 mechanical parking garages nationwide, the actual usage rate is below 62%, with some areas experiencing vacancy rates as high as 45% [5][9]. - Many drivers prefer traditional parking spaces over mechanical garages, leading to significant underutilization of the latter [5][9]. Design and Operational Challenges - Mechanical parking garages often have design flaws, such as insufficient space for larger vehicles, which discourages usage [8][9]. - The operational complexity and maintenance requirements of mechanical systems contribute to inefficiencies, with users experiencing longer wait times for retrieving vehicles [9][10]. Market Potential and Future Outlook - Despite the current challenges, there remains a significant parking space shortage in urban areas, with an estimated gap of over 80 million parking spots nationwide [14][15]. - Innovative designs and improved technology could enhance the appeal and functionality of mechanical parking garages, potentially addressing both parking difficulties and financial viability [12][13][15].

Group 1 - The mechanical parking garage is facing significant challenges, with many users preferring traditional parking spaces due to difficulties in parking and retrieval processes [1][3][7] - The market for mechanical parking garages is declining, with companies like Wuyang Zikong and Sanpu Co., Ltd. experiencing substantial revenue drops in their related business segments [2][5][6] - The actual usage rate of mechanical parking garages is low, with some areas reporting vacancy rates as high as 45%, despite a significant number of garages being built [4][11] Group 2 - The design flaws of mechanical parking garages, such as insufficient space for larger vehicles and the need for specialized maintenance, contribute to their poor user experience [7][8][9] - Newer models of mechanical garages are being developed to address these issues, featuring wider spaces and improved technology for vehicle retrieval, but the initial investment and operational costs remain high [11][12][13] - The parking space shortage in urban areas continues to be a pressing issue, with a significant gap between the number of cars and available parking spots, indicating potential for future growth in the mechanical parking garage market if challenges can be addressed [12][13]

Core Insights - The mechanical parking system, once seen as a solution to urban parking shortages, is facing significant challenges in user adoption and operational efficiency [4][7][21] - Companies involved in the mechanical parking sector are experiencing declining revenues, with major players like Wuyang Zikong and Sanpu Co. reporting substantial drops in income from their parking services [4][10][14] Industry Overview - The mechanical parking system was expected to alleviate parking difficulties in urban areas, but user experiences have been largely negative due to design flaws and inefficiencies [5][15] - As of early 2025, over 12,000 mechanical parking facilities have been built in China, providing more than 10 million parking spaces, yet the actual usage rate is below 62%, with some areas seeing vacancy rates as high as 45% [9][21] Company Performance - Wuyang Zikong's revenue from mechanical parking services has decreased from over 1 billion yuan in 2020 to 550 million yuan in 2024 [4][10] - Sanpu Co. has also seen a decline in its mechanical parking-related sales, dropping from 160 million yuan in 2022 to approximately 81 million yuan in 2024 [4][14] - Dongjie Intelligent's mechanical parking system revenue has significantly decreased from 150 million yuan in 2021 to just 406,240 yuan in 2024, despite a recent slight increase [12][14] User Experience Challenges - Users report difficulties with the mechanical parking system, including inadequate space for larger vehicles and slow retrieval times, which can exceed one minute even without queues [15][17] - The design of many mechanical parking systems does not accommodate the increasing size of modern vehicles, leading to frustration among users [15][16] Market Potential and Future Outlook - Despite current challenges, there remains a significant parking space shortage in urban areas, with estimates suggesting a gap of over 80 million parking spaces nationwide [22][23] - Innovations in mechanical parking technology, such as wider parking spaces and improved operational efficiency, may provide opportunities for future growth in the sector [21][22]