'Chabot Care 365' targets vehicles within one month of delivery

Covers door dings, stone chips, wheels, tires and smart keys

Up to 2 million won in combined parts repair and auto insurance deductible support

Launch discount cuts price from 665,000 won to 258,000 won

Chabot Mobility has launched Chabot Care, a service covering everyday damage to new vehicles and auto insurance deductibles. [Chabot]
Chabot Mobility has launched Chabot Care, a service covering everyday damage to new vehicles and auto insurance deductibles. [Chabot]

A new vehicle care product has arrived for drivers dealing with the kind of minor damage — door dings, stone chips and wheel scratches — that is too small to justify an auto insurance claim but too costly to ignore.

Chabot Mobility announced Monday the launch of Chabot Care, a service covering everyday damage to new vehicles and auto insurance deductibles.

The flagship product, Chabot Care 365, covers common damage that can occur during the first year of ownership. Vehicles must be enrolled within one month of delivery to be eligible.

Coverage falls into five broad categories: windshield cracks and chips caused by flying stones; door dings, body scratches and side-mirror damage from parking incidents; lost smart keys; and wheel scuffs.

Tire damage from potholes, punctures and cord cuts is also covered. If a tire incident is processed through auto insurance and triggers a deductible, that out-of-pocket cost is reimbursable as well.

Chabot Care 365 provides up to 1 million won ($724) for parts repairs and up to 1 million won for auto insurance deductibles, for a combined annual limit of 2 million won.

To mark the launch, the product is available at 258,000 won — a roughly 61 percent discount from the regular price of 665,000 won. Subscribers also receive a 50,000 won Chabot designated-driver coupon and a Speedmate maintenance coupon book.

The service does not restrict where repairs can be carried out. Subscribers may use any service center or auto shop nationwide, and enrollment and claims are handled through the Chabot platform.

Repairs covered under Chabot Care are not recorded as auto insurance accident history. The company says this removes the concern over premium increases and accident records that can arise when minor damage is processed through standard auto insurance.

Customers who purchase a new car through Chabot receive a separate product, Chabot Care 100, free of charge. It is valid for 100 days after delivery and includes Speedmate maintenance coupons and a designated-driver coupon.

"Chabot Care fills the coverage gap that auto insurance struggles to address — from door dings and stone chips to tire damage," said Kang Byeong-hui, deputy chief executive of Chabot Mobility. "We wanted to give drivers peace of mind with their new car without the financial burden."

Meanwhile, Chabot Mobility is expanding beyond its vehicle purchase and management platform into the imports business. Its subsidiary Chabot Motors opened the first official Ram truck showroom in South Korea — "Ram Truck Seoul" — in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in July, and handles sales, warranty service, maintenance and parts supply for Ram vehicles domestically.


kwater@heraldcorp.com