Hyundai Motor opens Hyundai Mobility Lounge Kyoto Shijo

Hyundai Motor Co. is establishing a permanent location in Japan's Kansai region to allow customers to experience its eco-friendly cars such as the IONIQ 5 and Nexo.

Hyundai Mobility Japan, a Japanese subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, said on Thursday that it would open Hyundai Mobility Lounge Kyoto Shijo on Feb. 4 on Shijo Street in Kyoto.

In this lounge, visitors can test-drive the electric IONIQ 5 and the hydrogen fuel cell model Nexo, and get advice from sales staff and after-sales service personnel.

Hyundai Mobility already set up shop in A Pit Autobacs Kyoto Shijo, a shopping space that carries auto-related items, auto-themed clothing and miscellaneous goods. This is the flagship store of Autobacs Seven, a Japanese auto parts and service company.

Hyundai plans to strengthen its collaboration with Autobacs, starting with the launch of the Hyundai Mobility Lounge. Hyundai and Autobacs plan to create an alliance by which the former uses Autobacs' locations as affiliate maintenance facilities.

Hyundai Motor has aggressively promoted the establishment of experience centers in major cities in Japan.

In June of last year, Hyundai opened Hyundai Mobility Marunouchi at Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo in Tokyo's central business district.

In addition, in July of last year, Hyundai Customer Experience Center, Japan's first directly run customer center, was opened in Yokohama, followed by Hyundai City Store, an urban showroom in Nagoya and Fukuoka, in October.

"Hyundai Mobility Lounge Kyoto Shijo is the first non-temporary base in Kansai, and it will serve as a venue for customers to experience our pollution-free and eco-friendly models while Hyundai car owners can receive maintenance services in a comfortable setting," said a Hyundai Motor official.

Write to Il-Gue Kim at black0419@hankyung.com