Lotte Rental will enter Japan's short-term rental car market.
Lotte Rental's Japan subsidiary said on the 29th that it launched its first rental car service in Okinawa after forming a business partnership with Orix Auto, which operates the major Japanese rental brand Orix Rent-A-Car.
Lotte Rental headquarters operates the reservation and payment system, and Lotte Rental's Japan subsidiary supports on-site Korean-language customer service. Partner Orix Auto provides vehicles and the overall rental car operating infrastructure.
A Lotte Rent-a-Car official said, "You could rent a car through existing global platforms, but when problems arose locally, there was no way to get immediate help in Korean," and added, "We will make it so Korean travelers can rent cars in Japan as comfortably as at home and focus fully on traveling with family and friends."
Customers make reservations and payments on the Lotte Rent-a-Car website in the same way as using a domestic rental car. After departure, on-site they will use Orix Auto's vehicles and infrastructure under guidance from employees dispatched from Korea by Lotte Rental's Japan subsidiary.
A key feature is that employees dispatched directly from Korea are stationed locally and provide Korean-language support for the entire process from vehicle pickup to return. Customers use Orix Auto's vehicles, but Lotte Rental serves as the primary contact for all emergencies such as accidents and breakdowns. Even if issues arise, there is no need to contact the local rental company directly, as Lotte Rental's dispatched staff respond 24 hours a day.
It also offers the collision damage waiver (CDW), a full-cover insurance program that minimizes customer liability in the event of an accident, the Rent-a-car Assurance Package (RAP), and an unlimited-use product for the electronic toll collection system (ETC), which serves the same role as Korea's Hi-Pass on Japanese expressways.
To mark the launch of the Okinawa rental car service, Lotte Rental is offering up to 38% off by vehicle type during the August peak season and a 20,000 won discount coupon for short-term rentals in Jeju. Customers who rent a van for 3 days (72 hours) can use a rental car for 510,000 won, discounted by about 290,000 won from the regular price of about 800,000 won. Special deals will also be available in September and October.
Vehicle classes are four: ▲ compact ▲ compact hybrid ▲ compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) ▲ van. Based on a 72-hour lending for compact class, prices start at 260,000 won. The amount is similar to existing Korean-run rental car companies in Okinawa and varies with the exchange rate. This price includes both insurance and ETC.
Reservations and payment are available by clicking "Overseas reservation" on the Lotte Rent-a-Car website and app. Starting today, it is available first on mobile, and it will also be available on the website from Aug. 3.