Socar launches car-sharing service with Naver's generative AI

South Korea’s mobility platform operator Socar Inc. has introduced a car-sharing service utilizing generative artificial intelligence in cooperation with the country’s web portal giant Naver Corp. to cement its leading position in the local short-term vehicle rental market.

Socar on Friday unveiled a car-sharing recommendation service based on HyperCLOVA X, Naver’s hyperscale AI platform, which allows users to reserve vehicles through voice chats with AI.

The new service is part of a collaboration deal between the two companies in July, which includes joint development of an AI-based mobility service combining Naver’s large language model (LLM) and Socar’s data. The platform, which operates about 20,000 vehicles for car sharing in South Korea, has been accumulating data on the business for 12 years.

The two partners allow users to enjoy Socar’s car-sharing service through Naver’s conversational AI service CLOVA X. This is the first time that Socar is offering its service on other platforms rather than just its own app.

Naver’s AI recommends vehicle types, boarding locations and makes other suggestions while informing users of service charges when those drivers supply information such as destination, schedule and car-sharing purpose.

“The AI identifies users’ intentions and provides answers and options based on Socar’s valid data,” said a Socar official.

TO EXPAND SOCAR USERS

The mobility platform expects the cooperation with Naver to quickly increase users. The number of Socar’s monthly active users (MAU) stood at around 800,000, more than double the some 300,000 users of the No. 2 domestic car-sharing player Greencar Co.

Socar reported an operating profit of 1.6 billion won ($1.2 million) in the second quarter, up 14.6% from a year earlier, as sales grew 14.1% to 103.9 billion won.

The company aims to collaborate with more partners for its other mobility services such as parking and electric bicycles. Socar’s app has attracted 9.2 million users so far, while apps of its subsidiaries for sharing parking lot spaces and electric bicycles have secured 4.3 million users.

“We plan to provide services for car parks and e-bikes through external apps,” said Socar Chief Executive Officer Park Jaeuk.

Write to Ju-Hyun Lee at 2juhyun@hankyung.com
 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.