[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] SOCAR(403550)is launching its “Instant Delivery” service, which delivers a vehicle to any desired location within one hour after a request is made anywhere in Seoul. This strategy aims to expand the use of car-sharing—which has traditionally focused on weekend trips and long-distance travel—to include everyday weekday trips such as commuting to and from work, taking children to and from school, and attending business meetings.

SOCAR, a lifetime mobility platform, announced on the 15th that it will fully launch services tailored to weekday travel needs, including △ “Instant Delivery,” △ a 50% discount on one-way fares, and △ a flat-rate commuting plan.

SOCAR recognized that weekday trips—such as commuting to and from work, taking children to and from school, and attending business meetings—have different usage conditions than weekend trips. This is because these trips tend to be shorter, often one-way, and frequently require departure at specific times. There was also the inconvenience of having to travel to a SOCAR Zone to rent a vehicle.

Accordingly, to boost demand for weekday travel, SOCAR has revamped its services in terms of vehicle accessibility, return convenience, and consecutive usage.

Vehicle Delivery Within 1 Hour Throughout Seoul

First, SOCAR is launching a beta version of its “Now Delivery” service throughout Seoul, which delivers a car-sharing vehicle to the customer’s desired location within one hour.

The process is the same as the existing delivery service. Customers select “Now Delivery” in the app and choose a vehicle based on their current location, and SOCAR delivers the vehicle to that location.

If a vehicle is not assigned within 5 minutes after the customer selects one, the reservation is automatically canceled. No cancellation fee is charged. This measure is designed to reduce the time customers spend waiting for a vehicle assignment and avoid incurring cancellation fees.

To ensure reliable dispatch, “Now Delivery” assigns vehicles located near the customer’s current location. If vehicle delivery is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances such as traffic control, compensation in the form of credits redeemable within the SOCAR app will be provided based on the delay level. The vehicle return time will also be automatically extended.

SOCAR has been operating a delivery service that brings vehicles to the customer’s desired location since 2018. Under the existing delivery service, reservations for standard vehicles had to be made at least 2 hours in advance, while reservations for the premium “Black Label” service required at least 2 hours and 40 minutes’ notice.

15,900 won from the end of the workday until the next morning

SOCAR will also continue to offer its “Commute-to-Commute” plan, which allows users to rent a vehicle from 6:00 p.m. (around the end of the workday) until 10:00 a.m. the following morning. The rental fee is a flat rate of 15,900 won on weekdays.

Users can rent a car on their way home from work and continue using it until the next morning’s commute, rather than returning it immediately. This feature eliminates the hassle of having to rent a car again in the morning.

The service also offers a one-way fee discount for users who have difficulty returning to their starting point. When using car-sharing for a one-way trip of four hours or more, the one-way fee—which is charged separately from the rental fee—is discounted by 50%.

One-way users can rent a car from a SOCAR Zone near their home and return it near their destination, such as their office, school, or hospital. This eliminates the need to return to the starting point and reduces the hassle of finding a parking spot at the destination.

65% Discount During Seoul Bus Strikes

SOCAR plans to implement measures to support car-sharing transportation if the Seoul city bus strike proceeds as scheduled, starting with the first bus on the 16th.

To minimize travel inconvenience for Seoul residents, the company will provide coupons offering a 65% discount on rental fees for compact and smaller vehicles. The coupons will be valid for rentals ranging from a minimum of 30 minutes to a maximum of 16 hours.

SOCAR intends to adjust the terms of the support—including the applicable areas and vehicle types—based on the progress of the strike and local vehicle supply conditions.

It is reported that buses account for approximately 20% of Seoul’s public transportation mode share. SOCAR explained that the initiative aims to reduce the burden of travel for citizens who find it difficult to use alternative modes of transportation, such as the subway, by providing them with a car-sharing option.

Ahn Dong-hwa, Head of SOCAR’s Car-Sharing Division, said, “We plan to continuously improve convenience so that car-sharing can naturally become established not only for travel or long-distance weekend trips but also for everyday commutes,” adding, “Our goal is to provide a service that allows users to access a car immediately and without hassle whenever they need one.”