First foray into Yeongnam region after Greater Seoul rollout

Largest operator in complex, with one-stop service system

T Car's Busan sales center. [Lotte Rental]
T Car's Busan sales center. [Lotte Rental]

Lotte Rental's used-car retail brand T Car announced Tuesday it has opened its first regional outlet in Busan, marking a significant step in expanding its nationwide service network. The Busan location is T Car's fourth sales center overall, following outlets in Gayang-dong, Gangseo-gu in Seoul and in Bucheon and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province — and the first to open outside the Greater Seoul area.

The T Car Busan Sales Center is located at the Busan Gamman Automobile Trading Complex in Nam-gu, Busan. T Car has secured one of the largest floor capacities among all tenants in the complex.

The center features dedicated maintenance infrastructure for T Car vehicles. A one-stop system handles everything from mandatory performance inspections and vehicle preparation to purchase and delivery, streamlining the process from the moment a vehicle arrives at the facility.

The Busan opening is designed to strengthen T Car's online-centered sales model while extending its service coverage nationwide. The center will serve as an integrated hub for customers in the Yeongnam region, delivering vehicles purchased online and providing after-sales service. The move is expected to mark a turning point as T Car's offline service network, previously concentrated in the Greater Seoul area, expands across the country.

Lotte Rental officially launched the T Car brand in May last year. The brand's core values are Trust — reliable used cars — and Total Care, meaning ongoing vehicle management after purchase. T Car aims to raise confidence in used-car transactions and offer a differentiated buying experience through post-purchase vehicle care services.

T Car focuses its supply on long-term rental vehicles used by corporate executives and managers, excluding short-term rental cars that have had multiple users. Lotte Rental said customers can buy with confidence because the company purchases new vehicles directly and has them maintained by vehicle care specialists every two to three months. The company also discloses full records transparently, including mandatory performance inspection history, insurance history and maintenance records from the time of original purchase.

The brand's core lineup consists of popular Hyundai Motor and Kia models that are three to four years old — the segment consumers prefer most. T Car is the first in the industry to offer six months of free warranty repairs covering key components such as the engine, transmission and braking system, double the three-month standard common in the industry. The company has also introduced a seven-day return guarantee, allowing buyers to decide after actually driving the vehicle.

Customers who choose T Car continue to receive vehicle care services after purchase. A one-year complimentary membership — covering scheduled home-visit inspections and engine oil changes — is provided free of charge under the Chabangjeong and Chabangjeong Plus membership tiers.

Sales performance has grown sharply alongside the center expansion. T Car posted second-quarter sales of 30.9 billion won ($21.8 million), more than double the 14.8 billion won recorded in the same period last year. With an operating profit margin of around 20 percent, the brand is emerging as a new cash cow for the company.

"The opening of the Busan center allows us to get much closer to customers in the Busan and South Gyeongsang Province area," a Lotte Rental official said. "We will provide an even more convenient and trustworthy used-car buying experience."


eyre@heraldcorp.com