Kakao Mobility announced on the 7th that it will launch a brokerage service connecting the purchase of electric trucks and special vehicles available for mobility-disadvantaged users through its Kakao T platform.
As part of its ESG management, Kakao Mobility has been actively promoting projects for ‘green mobility activation’, including the dissemination of eco-friendly electric taxis and the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations, as well as initiatives for ‘barrier-free mobility’ for mobility-disadvantaged individuals, such as the Hope Car in Seodaemun. To further expand these efforts, it has partnered with GS Global, AT Mobility, and others to launch a consultation service for purchasing eco-friendly and special-purpose vehicles for the transportation disadvantaged on the Kakao T platform.
The first vehicle to be featured on Kakao T is the T4K, a 1-ton electric truck from BYD, which has recently been introduced to the domestic market. In collaboration with GS Global, a promotional event for consultation reservations is being conducted. GS Global, the official importer of BYD, is engaged in various collaborations to provide a total solution for eco-friendly vehicles, including the electric vehicle lineup and charging services for electric vehicle users.
Users wanting to purchase can apply for consultations through the purchase consultation icon displayed in the My Car tab in Kakao T and the vehicle management tab in Kakao Navi. Once the application is completed, they will receive detailed information regarding vehicle purchases from a dealer in their desired area. Customers who pre-register through the Kakao T app and complete the vehicle handover will receive a welcome package for the T4K and a 50,000 KRW electric vehicle charging voucher, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
An inclusive lineup for transportation-disadvantaged individuals has also been secured. In cooperation with AT Mobility, the domestic sales representative of the UK LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company), plans to showcase the TX model—a green vehicle suitable for both disabled and non-disabled passengers—on the Kakao T app within the third quarter of this year. The TX, famous for the London black cabs, is equipped with a slide rail that allows passengers to board while seated in a wheelchair, enhancing the convenience of transportation for the disabled in Korea.
Through the introduction of the TX vehicle on the Kakao T platform, Kakao Mobility expects to raise understanding and interest in special-purpose vehicles for transportation-disadvantaged individuals, and ultimately, to create new demand in the B2B (business-to-business) and B2G (business-to-government) sectors.
Kakao Mobility CEO Ryu Geung-seon stated, “By expanding access to eco-friendly vehicles through the Kakao T platform, we have now implemented barrier-free mobility that considers the transportation of mobility-disadvantaged individuals.” He also mentioned that, “These activities are expected to enhance the value of universal mobility and also provide new sales opportunities for special vehicle dealers who find it difficult to secure offline sales locations.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr