Kia Expands Operating Areas for Electric Vehicle Sharing Service 'Weeble Biz'

Kia is expanding its electric vehicle sharing service to Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province. Through this, Kia plans to take the lead in creating an eco-friendly mobility ecosystem based on regional coexistence.

On the 18th, Kia announced that it will expand the operation of its electric vehicle sharing service 'WeBe Biz' to Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, following its existing operations in Hwaseong-si and Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province, and Gyeongsangnam-do.

WeBe Biz is an eco-friendly sharing service where companies or institutions subscribe to electric vehicles during designated working hours, using them for business purposes on weekdays, and individuals can rent the vehicles for commuting or weekend leisure during other times.

Kia Electric Vehicle Sharing Service 'WeBble Biz' Operating Vehicles
[Photo by Kia]

This service was introduced for the first time in a county-level local government area, where public transportation is relatively scarce. It is being implemented in the form of participation in the 'Smart City Council,' which consists of local residents, merchants, and public officials, to promote the creation of a smart city in Hongcheon-gun.

The Smart City Council aims to discover new mobility services unique to Hongcheon-gun that can contribute to revitalizing the local economy and solving urban problems by utilizing group education and living lab (social innovation policies led by local residents) methods.

Specifically, to promote local tourism, plans will be developed to link WeBe Biz's eco-friendly vehicles with major tourist attractions and restaurants in Hongcheon-gun, and the business feasibility will be reviewed.

To this end, Kia will deploy four Niro EV electric vehicles to the Hongcheon County Office. These vehicles will be used by public officials at the Hongcheon County Office for business purposes during weekday working hours, and during nights and weekends, they will be freely used by members of the Smart City Council, local residents, and public officials.

A Kia official said, "We expect WeBe Biz to become an opportunity to expand as a new mobility solution that has a positive impact on the overall local community, such as improving transportation welfare and revitalizing local tourism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.