[Exclusive] Kakao Mobility Unveils 'Tesla Model X' Taxi

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Kakao Mobility is introducing the luxury electric vehicle model 'Tesla Model X' to its taxi service.

According to industry sources on the 10th, Kakao Mobility plans to add Tesla vehicles to its premium van taxi service 'Kakao T Venti' and is expected to start operations this month.

The Tesla Model X being introduced costs 130 million KRW, making it the most premium model among Tesla vehicles, and it is reported to be equipped with autonomous driving features. Although the deployment of electric vehicles in taxis has recently increased, this is the first time such a top-tier model has been introduced in the industry.

Kakao T Venti is Kakao Mobility's large van and premium taxi service. It boasts spacious and comfortable interiors, an automatic dispatch system, and drivers who have completed specialized service training. Fares are applied flexibly, reflecting demand concentration and traffic conditions. The base fare is 4,000 KRW.

So far, Kakao Mobility has operated Kakao T Venti using Starex and Carnival vehicles under large van licenses, and the 4th generation Carnival under premium taxi licenses.

Kakao Mobility's expansion of premium vehicle models is interpreted as a differentiation strategy amid fierce competition in the mobility industry. Global companies Uber and SK Telecom's subsidiary T Map Mobility have launched the 'UT' service, engaging in a dominance battle with industry leader Kakao Mobility.

Kakao Mobility's taxi-hailing app 'Kakao T' has 28 million users and 230,000 driver members. Recently, Kakao Mobility has aggressively expanded its business by launching various services including designated driver, parking, navigation, car wash, maintenance, and electric vehicle charging. It plans to launch a quick service in the third quarter. The day before, it secured 140 billion KRW in investment from the TPG consortium and Carlyle, bringing its total investment to 920 billion KRW, the largest scale in the domestic mobility industry.

The Tesla Model X taxis are expected to be operated by a directly managed transportation company, a subsidiary of Kakao Mobility. Kakao Mobility plans to expand the Tesla Model X taxi fleet in the future after reviewing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and user feedback.