[SEOUL, October 6, 2026] Greencar Co., Ltd. (CEO Kang Hyun-bin), a subsidiary of LOTTE rental that operates the car-sharing service "LOTTE rent-a-car G car" (hereafter "G car"), released on the 6th the results of a comparative analysis of usage trends during the fall season (October–November) in 2024 and 2025. The analysis found that, with the arrival of autumn leaf peeping season, car-sharing usage patterns have expanded beyond short suburban drives to include overnight trips linked with KTX travel, with usage among customers in their 40s and 50s rising especially fast.
■ Longer, Farther: Overnight and Long-Distance Usage Stand Out in Fall
According to the analysis, the average G car usage time in fall 2025 was 10 hours and 43 minutes, up 21.5% from the previous year's 8 hours and 49 minutes, while average mileage was 105.6㎞, up 10.7% from 95.4㎞ the previous year. Rentals of 24 hours or more increased 36.8%, and long-distance rentals of 200㎞ or more increased 20.0%. This is attributed to cool weather coinciding with peak leaf peeping season, driving a surge in demand for trips outside the city that translated directly into car-sharing usage.
■ Users in Their 40s and 50s: Overnight Rentals Nearly Double, Driving Fall Car-Sharing Growth
This shift was led by customers in their 40s and 50s. The number of fall users increased 42.3% among those in their 40s and 45.1% among those 50 and older, while rentals of 24 hours or more (overnight) rose 87.2% and 94.6%, respectively, for these two age groups. Average usage time was also longest among users in their 40s, at 15 hours and 17 minutes — about 1.7 times longer than users in their 20s (9 hours and 2 minutes).
Contactless car-sharing, which allows reservation and return through a single app, appears to be establishing itself as a mode of leisure transportation for customers in their 40s and 50s as well. By contrast, customers in their 20s showed the highest share of short-distance rentals under 4 hours, at 47.1%.
■ leaf peeping Drives, KTX Connections, and Jeju: Fall Car-Sharing Travel Patterns Diversify
Fall car-sharing trips fell largely into two patterns: renting a vehicle in the city and driving directly to a leaf peeping destination, or traveling by KTX and then using G car locally.
Demand for inland leaf peeping drives is reflected in the data as well. G car usage in Jecheon — near Mt. Worak and Cheongpung Lake — increased 47.8%, while usage in Jeongeup, near Mt. Naejang, rose 28.2%.
"KTX-linked trips," in which travelers take the train and then rent a G car locally, also increased. The number of rentals at locations near KTX stations rose 10.8%, and the number of users rose 13.5%, with average usage time 1.5 times longer than at everyday locations such as residential or business areas. The average usage time at the rental location near Gyeongju KTX Station was 27 hours and 4 minutes, reflecting an emerging pattern of travelers taking the train and then renting a vehicle locally for a night or more. Gangneung — home to the Odaesan Sogeumgang Valley — also ranked 5th among destinations most popular with users in their 20s, driven largely by the rental location near Gangneung KTX Station.
Jeju Island stood out as a distinct category. Since doubling its fleet of operating vehicles on Jeju in 2025, G car saw fall usage on the island increase 88%, ranking as the top destination for users in their 20s, 40s, and 50-plus (and third for users in their 30s). In particular, usage at the two rental locations in front of Jeju International Airport rose 60.5%, with average usage time reaching roughly 39 to 40 hours — suggesting that flying to Jeju and then using car-sharing locally is becoming a new standard travel pattern for trips to the island.
■ Avante and Other Models from ₩30,000-Something per 24 Hours... Fall leaf peeping Travel Event Through Late November
In response to this fall travel demand, G car is running its "Autumn of Travel" event through November 30, in partnership with the "Travel Month" campaign hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. For rentals of 24 hours or more, select vehicle models are available for a 24-hour rate of ₩32,000 in the greater Seoul metropolitan area and ₩31,000 outside the metropolitan area, allowing customers to enjoy a full day of autumn leaf peeping driving at an affordable price.
For rentals of 10 hours or more, rental fees for all vehicle models are discounted 60%, with an additional 10% discount on insurance. Through October 31, the "60% Autumn Travel Support Coupon" also provides a 60% discount on rentals of 4 to 10 hours. The coupon cannot be combined with other discount offers, mileage fees are charged separately, and Jeju is excluded from this event. Customers who use the "Autumn of Travel" coupon and apply through the event post on the LOTTE rent-a-car G car app will receive two Mega Coffee Americanos each, on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 1,000 applicants, with three winners selected by random drawing to receive a 24-hour G car rental voucher. Further details are available on the LOTTE rent-a-car G car app.
Greencar CEO Kang Hyun-bin stated, "From autumn leaf peeping drives to overnight trips linked with KTX travel, the uses of fall car-sharing are becoming more diverse." He added, "We will make our customers' autumn travels even more convenient through destination-focused vehicle operations and a range of benefits."
Greencar launched Korea's first car-sharing service in 2011. In September 2024, it rebranded its service as the premium car-sharing brand "LOTTE rent-a-car G car." As of 2026, it has a cumulative membership of 5.34 million, operates a fleet of roughly 7,400 vehicles, and maintains approximately 2,500 rental locations. The company plans to continue expanding its services beyond vehicle rental into a lifestyle mobility platform. <END> |
