On the 17th, amid the fluctuating weather and winter rain, I visited the Volvo H Motors Incheon Service Center located in Jung-gu, Incheon. The Volvo Incheon Service Center opened in March 2013 in Dongchun-dong, Yeonsu-gu, and after 10 years of operation, it relocated to its expanded facility in Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, last October.
The newly expanded Volvo Incheon Service Center spans a three-story building with a total area of 2,466.74m² (approximately 746 pyeong). The first floor features a general repair workspace and accident reception desk, the second floor has an accident vehicle repair shop and customer lounge, and the third floor is designated for parking.
Branch Manager Ahn Jong-jin noted, “When we were in Dongchun-dong, we had only four work bays, but now we have significantly expanded our capacity to eight operational bays. The workspace on the first floor has increased more than threefold.”
The average number of vehicles brought in has also significantly increased. In December 2022, an average of 22.3 vehicles per day were registered, which rose to 24.6 when we moved to Jung-gu last December, and this month it has further increased to 27. This is a maximum increase rate of 21% compared to December 2022.
In the general repair workspace on the first floor, all work bays are occupied by Volvo vehicles undergoing inspection by technicians. The entire area is clean and organized, with no clutter in sight. The relocation of the service center has greatly enhanced the working environment. The workshop now has wireless internet, significantly increasing internet speeds. Just as the internet speed has improved, so has the efficiency of the mechanics in processing their tasks. Within the wireless-enabled workspace, technicians were seen reviewing diagnostic codes on their laptops connected to the vehicles.
The second floor features a customer lounge and accident vehicle repair area. Upon entering the customer lounge, you are greeted by a Swedish luxury-style living room atmosphere. It feels warm and cozy, like home. There are also private workspaces installed in the customer lounge, enabling clients to handle urgent tasks while waiting for vehicle inspections.
In the accident vehicle repair area, vehicles wait in line like patients in a hospital waiting for their turn, while on one side, a freshly painted bumper is drying. On the right side, there is a sanding area and a painting area. Workers were seen smoothing out the surfaces of a damaged XC90, removing scratches for repainting.
The Incheon Service Center is equipped with cutting-edge technology. Specifically, the CAR-O-LINER, a laser device that measures the degree of distortion in vehicles. After measuring the distortion angles, the process of restoring the vehicle to its original state begins.
In a distinct area set aside for accident vehicles, there is a computer setup with several containers marked with serial numbers on a shelf. This is the color mixing machine (조색기). In the past, color matching for repainting accident-damaged vehicles required manual blending, but now colors are mixed based on vehicle data stored in the computer. While previously only painting experts could mix paint colors for repairs, this introduction of the color mixing machine allows not only paint experts but also general accident repair staff to blend paint colors. Manager Ahn emphasized that, “Currently, the color mixing machine is only available at the Incheon and Seongsu service centers of Volvo H Motors.”
Thanks to the addition of such advanced accident repair facilities, Manager Ahn reported, “In the three months since the opening, we have consistently received an average of 60 to 70 accident vehicles per month.”
With the expansion of the Incheon Service Center, the diversity of local customers visiting for accident repairs has also increased. Manager Ahn mentioned, “60% of visiting customers reside in the Songdo New City area, while customers also come from places like Ilsan, Ansan, and Siheung.”
Furthermore, due to the parts truck that visits the center twice a day, engine oil and consumable changes can be processed within an hour, and accident repairs are usually completed within three days if there are no issues with parts supply.
In the surrounding area of Sinheung-dong, there are several import car service centers for brands like Lincoln, Jeep, and Mercedes-Benz. Manager Ahn remarked, “Having them clustered together makes it easier to explain directions to customers who don’t use navigation. Also, when import car service centers are nearby, it’s convenient when branch managers need to borrow equipment from each other or make requests.”
Moreover, Manager Ahn expressed his gratitude towards customers frequenting the Incheon Service Center. “One day, while working, one of our staff made a mistake, and the customer had to come back. Under normal circumstances, they could have complained, but instead, the customer reassured us and even brought us food. Additionally, an elderly customer, akin to a mother in age, brought us groceries from the market. Our customers have a warm demeanor, and we are always grateful for them.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr