Audi Volkswagen Korea, the Korean sales unit of German carmakers Volkswagen AG and Audi AG that is seeking a comeback to the Korean auto market after a year-long sale ban, plans to sell its cars via a mobile app developed by the country’s leading mobile app developer Kakao Corp.

According to auto industry sources on Monday, Audi Volkswagen Korea is working with Kakao to set up the automaker’s online sale platform in Kakao Mobility, a transportation service app that is due to be launched in the second half of this year by Kakao.

The new Kakao app is designed to allow consumers to check car details such as technical specifications and make a purchase through either Kakao Pay mobile payment service or a conventional offline payment option.

Audi Volkswagen Korea’s decision to start mobile sale comes after it has lost a majority of its dealers in the country following the government’s sale ban on its cars a year ago. It had completely suspended its vehicle sale since the Korean government revoked the certifications of 80 models in 32 variants of the two German brands in August last year upon finding that they had fabricated emissions reports to obtain permission to sell vehicles in Korea.

A large number of dealers have left Audi Volkswagen Korea’s sale network since the sale ban, leaving the German auto company unable to lead its sales operation in a conventional way, said an unnamed auto industry official.

After the German automaker received new licenses for its two sports utility vehicle Audi Q7 and Audi R8 from the Korean Ministry of Environment earlier this month, the company is seeking various ways to regain the ground in the Korean market.

The new means of car purchase via the mobile app is also expected to help consumers with spend less time in searching and comparing prices and details when purchasing a new car. It would also help narrow the price gap between offline dealers because the cars will be listed at the price offered by the automaker itself on the mobile app.

By Park Chang-young

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]