Socar is launching a service that allows users to test drive new cars such as Volvos and Land Rovers for a week free of charge. On the 3rd, Socar announced the release of their new service, “Test Drive,” which lets consumers experience new cars for an extended period without a rental fee. Consumers considering purchasing a vehicle can now test drive new cars from Socar for a week at no cost.
In the Socar application, users can choose their desired brand and car in the “Test Drive” section and apply to enter a draw for the test drive opportunity. The vehicles are delivered to the customer’s specified location and time utilizing Socar’s logistics infrastructure, and the entire process, including pickup and return, is conducted without face-to-face interaction.
The service is available in major metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon, Goyang, Hanam, Suwon, Yongin (Suji), and Seongnam (Bundang, Sujeong, Jungwon). The test drive period is one week, with no charges for the rental or insurance. The only costs incurred during the test period are the driving fees based on actual mileage (free for the first 30 km, 250 KRW per km thereafter) and any toll fees. Each vehicle undergoes an interior and exterior cleaning and a detailed inspection after each test drive.
The initial test drive partners are Volvo Car Korea and Jaguar Land Rover Korea. Volvo will offer the premium compact SUV, the XC40 in the highest trim, B4 AWD Ultra, while Land Rover will include the Discovery Sport and the luxury compact SUV Range Rover Evoque in their test drive lineup, available in the S and Dynamic SE trims.
The first test drives will begin on the 24th, and a total of 135 participants will be selected for the opportunity. Applications are open from the 3rd to the 14th of this month, and participants need to select their preferred brand and car in the Socar app’s “Test Drive” menu and complete a simple survey. The results will be announced on the 19th via the Socar app and notifications.
Do Young-seok, head of Socar’s test drive business team, stated, “Test drives are a crucial process in purchasing high-involvement products like cars, yet they have been provided with limited time and inconvenient procedures for consumers. Based on our accumulated expertise in non-face-to-face vehicle operations and the strengths of our platform, we aim to enhance the accessibility of test drives and expand a reasonable and convenient test drive experience for both car manufacturers, dealers, and customers.”