Socar "One-way service growing mainly among young people"... Usage up 106% compared to last year

Socar announced on the 8th that its one-way service, which has strengths in accessibility and convenience, is gaining popularity among younger generations such as those in their 20s and 30s, showing a growth trend.

Unlike the round-trip service where rental and return occur at the same Socar Zone, the one-way service allows users to return the vehicle to a different location from where it was rented. Through options like 'Socar Zone One-Way' and 'Call One-Way,' which allows rental and return outside of Socar Zones, users can flexibly plan their trips according to their situations, gaining positive responses among users.

According to Socar's own analysis data, the age group that particularly favors the one-way service is the 20s and 30s. Among members who used the one-way service, 49% were in their 20s and 32% in their 30s, meaning that 8 out of 10 one-way trips were made by the 2030 generation. Additionally, in the first half of this year, the number of one-way service uses across all age groups more than doubled compared to last year, showing a growth trend.

Fueled by the popularity of the one-way service, Socar's one-way service usage in the first half of this year increased by 106% compared to the same period last year. The share of one-way service usage also grew by over 100% in all domestic regions including Seoul, Gyeongsang, and Jeju. In particular, in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk regions where only Call One-Way was available, the addition of Socar Zone One-Way service in April led to more than doubling of total one-way usage.

Interest in the newly introduced 'One-Way Pass' is also high. In August, Socar launched the beta version of the one-way dedicated subscription product, the One-Way Pass. By paying a subscription fee, users receive benefits worth up to 560,000 KRW, including a 50% discount on Socar rental fees and free fees for changing return locations. Socar has increased the quantity available for sale and enhanced benefits by raising the allowable one-way return distance from a 70km radius of Socar Zones to 120km.

Socar explained that the popularity of the one-way service among younger users is due to its high accessibility and convenience, which are essential for urgent travel. Among one-way service bookings in the first half of the year, 13% were made within 10 minutes before actual use, the highest rate among all Socar service types. Especially, the proportion of users in their 20s was the highest among all age groups at 14%. It appears that the spontaneous travel patterns of young people and the characteristic of the one-way service, which allows immediate vehicle use like a taxi at Socar Zones nationwide, have created a synergistic effect.

The share of late-night usage further proves the high convenience of the one-way service. The late-night usage share of the one-way service was 20%, higher than 15% for round-trip and 9% for Call services. Notably, 1 in 5 users in their 20s who use the one-way service used vehicles during late-night hours.

Meanwhile, one out of every five Socar uses in the first half of the year was for one-way or Call services. The number of uses for one-way and Call services increased by 43% compared to the same period last year.

Kim Min-yeop, head of Socar's Business Planning Team, said, "The remarkable achievements in one-way and Call services are the result of continuously considering user-centered service methods and putting them into action," adding, "We will continue to advance service types to efficiently respond to diversified mobility demands and focus on discovering new growth engines through new services."