CHACARE

CHACARE operates as a comprehensive car total care service platform in South Korea. The company was founded on November 20, 2015, by CEO Dong-hee Lee. The initial concept for the business reportedly stemmed from Lee's own need for a convenient car washing solution after inheriting a car he struggled to find time to clean himself.

The firm's journey began with an on-demand, online-to-offline (O2O) platform for dispatched car washing services, which launched its Android beta version in September 2015. CHACARE gained early recognition, winning a top prize at a Kookmin University start-up competition in February 2015 and securing a spot in Primer's 8th accelerator batch by November of the same year. The company received multiple rounds of investment from notable venture capital firms, including Strong Ventures, Primer, Sazze Partners, and Plantree Partners in 2016 and 2017. A significant milestone occurred in July 2019 when the car-sharing corporation Socar acquired CHACARE to enhance its vehicle maintenance capabilities and leverage CHACARE's operational data.

The business model is centered around providing a complete suite of vehicle management services for both individual and corporate clients. Revenue is generated by offering services such as exterior washing, interior cleaning, gloss polishing, glass coating, odor removal, and headlight restoration. Initially targeting individual car owners through a mobile application, the company expanded its client base to include corporate fleets, vehicle sharing services, and business executives' cars. Its platform aggregates and manages a network of service providers, using data and systemization to deliver solutions rather than relying solely on operational know-how. This data-driven approach to optimizing vehicle maintenance was a key factor in its acquisition by Socar.

Keywords: car care, vehicle maintenance, O2O platform, car wash, fleet management, automotive services, mobile car care, corporate vehicle management, Socar, car detailing