SK Gas Launches Support Program for LPG 1-Ton Truck Drivers

LPG 1-Ton Truck Driver Support Program for Overcoming COVID-19 and Coexisting with Small Business Owners

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] SK Gas Co., Ltd. is launching an LPG 1-ton truck driver support program to overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and promote coexistence with small business owners.

On August 19, SK Gas announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation to successfully operate the "LPG 1-ton Truck Driver Support Program for Overcoming COVID-19 and Coexisting with Small Business Owners" at the Transportation Hall located in Jamsil, together with Kia Motors, the National Federation of Freight Truck Transport Business Associations, and the Korea LPG Sales Association Central Committee.

The signing ceremony was held with the attendance of Park Chan-il, Head of Eco Energy Division at SK Gas; Lee Han-eung, Head of Sales Division at Kia Motors; Jeon Woon-jin, President of the National Federation of Freight Truck Transport Business Associations; and Kim Im-yong, President of the Korea LPG Sales Association Central Committee. This business agreement was made to ensure the successful operation of the LPG 1-ton truck driver support program prepared by SK Gas to promote coexistence with small business owners and self-employed individuals struggling due to COVID-19.

SK Gas plans to run the LPG 1-ton truck driver support program titled "Bongo Appa, Cheer Up! There is Eco LPG" for three months starting in September to support small business owners and self-employed individuals going through difficult times due to COVID-19.

While seeking ways to help small business owners and self-employed individuals suffering from COVID-19, SK Gas focused on the fact that 1-ton trucks are the most commonly used vehicles by these groups for their livelihoods. Based on this, they devised a support program for drivers operating LPG 1-ton trucks. To efficiently operate this program, they collaborated with Kia Motors, the sole domestic manufacturer of the LPG 1-ton truck “BongoⅢ,” and two associations with many actual beneficiaries enrolled.

The "Bongo Appa, Cheer Up! There is Eco LPG" program, starting this September, consists of three types of support benefits. The first is "Safety Support," designed to promote safe driving among drivers. By registering their LPG 1-ton truck vehicle registration certificate on a specially prepared website, the first 30,000 applicants will receive a free kit consisting of masks, hand sanitizers, and luminous stickers for vehicles to assist with nighttime safe driving.

The second support is "Fuel Cost Support." Among those operating LPG 1-ton trucks, the first 10,000 applicants will receive fuel cost support for LPG refueling for three months. After joining SK Gas’s LPG membership program "SK Happy Charging" and using SK Gas LPG refueling stations, points usable for LPG refueling will be provided monthly. Lastly, the "Happiness Support" project will be conducted. This project solicits stories from those in need of LPG 1-ton trucks, and selected individuals through story evaluation will be provided with an LPG 1-ton truck free of charge. Additionally, vehicle wrapping and tax consultation related to startups will also be supported.

Park Chan-il, Head of Eco Energy Division at SK Gas, said, "The LPG 1-ton truck is a livelihood vehicle operated by small business owners and self-employed individuals. We started this eco-friendly LPG 1-ton truck driver support project to coexist with those who are struggling greatly due to COVID-19. We ask for continued interest in eco-friendly LPG 1-ton trucks. SK Gas will strive to overcome difficulties caused by COVID-19 together with our customers."

Meanwhile, since 2019, the government has been providing up to KRW 7 million in subsidies when purchasing an LPG 1-ton truck after scrapping an old diesel vehicle (KRW 4 million for LPG 1-ton truck purchase support and KRW 3 million for early scrapping of old diesel vehicles). Additionally, Kia Motors offers a KRW 200,000 discount on vehicle prices, allowing buyers to receive up to KRW 7.2 million in benefits when purchasing an LPG 1-ton truck. Furthermore, the recently announced Green New Deal policy aims to convert approximately 150,000 diesel freight vehicles to eco-friendly LPG vehicles by 2025, which is expected to increase interest in LPG 1-ton trucks.

Detailed information about the "Bongo Appa, Cheer Up! There is Eco LPG" program, which conveys SK Gas’s message of coexistence, will be available on its dedicated website starting in September.