TOKYO, July 1, 2013 ―Signature Japan Co., Ltd., subsidiary of Rakuten, Inc. began offering a statutory vehicle inspection service today. The service allows customers to obtain estimates for inspections and bookings in advance.
Rakuten Statutory Vehicle Inspection is a service that enables customers to obtain a preliminary estimate and book a garage to inspect their vehicle at participating service stations via a specialized website, using their Rakuten member ID. Users can search for their nearest participating service station by entering their postal code. By typing in their vehicle model (and engine size), customers can also obtain a preliminary online estimate of their inspection. While they are getting their estimate, they can make a booking to visit the garage for a preliminary check-up. Users completing their inspections at a participating garage will receive 500 Rakuten Super Points.
Initially the service will be offered at the 574 Eneos Dr. Drive* service stations owned by JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation. Looking ahead, it is expected that the service will further expand across the Dr. Drive service station network. Other inspection service providers are also expected to participate, with some 900 garages to be registered by October, which would make this Japan’s largest vehicle inspection services.
According to a survey carried out by Signature Japan in December 2012, the highest priority in selecting the site of a statutory inspection was “trustworthy mechanic” (62.0%), followed by “low price” (51.0%), “clear understanding of costs” (50.8%). In other words, respondents placed much weight on factors related to cost, in addition to dependability. In Japan, some 30 million vehicles undergo inspections every year (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism survey), with half of those inspections carried out at the dealership without heed to price. Starting today, we will offer a distinctive Rakuten-style vehicle inspection service that presents a range of options to customers and that enables them to compare and consider prices.
In future, the Rakuten Statutory Vehicle Inspection service will expand its offerings into new sectors in conjunction with, for example, Rakuten Group’s “Rakuten Auto” or vehicle insurance, in order to meet an ever broader range of customer needs.
*”Dr. Drive” refers to service stations operated by JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation. In addition to supplying gasoline and diesel, they provide a range of services for customers’ vehicles from routine safety check-ups to statutory vehicle inspections that are designed to be just as dependable as those of a trusted family doctor. The service stations also offer a wide range of vehicle care services such as oil changes and car washing.