Platform targets 'checksumers' who scrutinize product details before buying
Firm bets on information transparency to stand out in opaque used-car industry
Reborn Car, a contactless certified used-car platform, said Thursday it manages the entire process — from vehicle acquisition and inspection to product preparation and delivery — through its in-house reconditioning center, the RebornCar Trust Center, to improve customers' access to vehicle information.
A consumer trend known as "checksumerism" — in which buyers carefully scrutinize ingredients, raw materials, manufacturing processes and certifications rather than relying on brand recognition or low prices — has been spreading beyond food and cosmetics into the used-car market.
In response, Reborn Car plans to raise customer trust by inspecting vehicles against its proprietary RQI (RebornCar Quality Inspection) standard, for which it obtained a patent in 2017, and disclosing the results transparently.
Under the RQI standard, the company's in-house specialists inspect each vehicle's interior and exterior as well as the engine bay, driving performance, brakes and other detailed components. The results are compiled into an RQI research note, which anyone can view on the vehicle's detail page on the company's website. The note covers items that ordinary consumers would find difficult to check on their own — including tire wear, oil leaks and water leaks — and is provided alongside the official used-car performance and condition inspection record, giving buyers a full picture of a vehicle's condition before purchase.
Reborn Car also operates a separate set of inspection items tailored to electric vehicles. The company has updated its RQI framework to reflect growing demand for electric vehicles, adding five new EV-specific inspection categories. These cover battery state of health (SOH) — which shows remaining battery life and performance relative to a new vehicle — as well as cell balance, cell voltage, insulation resistance and battery temperature. Whether the battery inspection has been completed is also noted on each vehicle's detail page, allowing buyers to check battery condition before committing to a purchase.
"Consumer demand to personally verify vehicle condition and quality during the used-car buying process is growing," a Reborn Car official said. "We will continue to strengthen our system for providing objective information in a transparent manner."
likehyo85@heraldcorp.com
