The trial is currently being conducted at Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, in a project involving up to 13,000 cars.

Through the “Audi connect wireless payment” scheme a communication link is established between cars and car parks, enabling barriers to be raised and charges to be paid without drivers needing to lift a finger.

During the trial phase, each car will communicate with the parking facilities via an individual RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) transmitter mounted on the inside of the windscreen.

The service is being provided by the Ingolstadt Economic Development Agency (IFG Ingolstadt), which operates nine car parks and underground parking garages in the city. The trial participants will receive a monthly bill from IFG detailing any parking charges incurred. The amount is then debited from the user's account by direct debit.

All Audi AG employees who lease a new car in the coming months will be able to participate in the trial.

The long-term aim is to establish wireless payment as another element of the Audi connect option, which already offers internet-based services such as Google Earth, Google Street View, local fuel pricing, news and weather information.

This latest move follows the unveiling of another parking aid earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Audi piloted parking system is also still at the prototype stage and enables the car to find the nearest parking space and to guide itself autonomously to that space and park.