“차는 좋은데, 고장 나면?”…19년 타이어 개발자와 36년 도장 기술자의 답

Checking list of items inside the service area filled with lifting and tool sounds, the mechanic inspected the vehicle's dashboard and operation status. The mechanic seated at the steering wheel verified the speedometer and gear condition, while the mechanic outside the vehicle walked around the car with a file, checking various fluids like wipers, tires, and oils.

Last month, the Gyeongnam Changwon City Renault Kia Changwon Central Service Center held free inspections. Kim Young-hun, team leader of the general service team, explained that "this is a basic service offered to customers regardless of their request," adding that "in summer, we also check air conditioning and heating related items, while in winter we also check these components."

Basic inspections for regular vehicles take about 15 minutes, including battery and electrical systems checks. Hybrid and electric vehicles require 38 and 40 items respectively, taking around 20 minutes. The last inspection point for consumers considering buying a car is after purchasing it and finding it satisfactory. Those who bought the Renault Kia Crossback crossover recently, compared it to the Tesla Model Y and Kia Optima hybrid.

After searching for over 50 videos of the car, the owner found it satisfactory but had concerns about post-purchase service. This concern was evident in the purchase flow. During the first eight months of this year, Renault Kia's cumulative sales were down 30.7% compared to the same period last year, with a 47.7% drop in August compared to last year.

Among the models, the Grand Clio sold 929 units, the Arcana 575 units, and the Crossback 520 units. The Grand Clio, released in September 2024, sold 73,087 units by August but saw a 68.0% drop in sales compared to last year. The Crossback, introduced in March 2025, saw a 47.7% drop in August sales compared to last year. The inspection room at the Changwon Central Service Center was louder than before.

Inside the body shop, masking, pre-treatment, spraying, and drying processes continued, along with dust collection and ventilation equipment. In the adjacent repair area, tire removal was ongoing. This tire repair area is one of the core strengths of the Changwon Central Service Center. The tire repair process, which restores a damaged car body to its original shape and covers up the repair marks, is crucial.

The color match is critical because even a slight change in color is noticeable to the car owner. The color matching team, with 36 years of experience, includes three senior managers who have worked independently for 20 years. Renault Kia provides a slightly lower replacement cost for front and rear bumpers compared to its previous sports utility vehicles and similar pricing for engine oil set and air filter replacement for the Crossback.

Customers praise the smoothness, comfort, and fuel efficiency of the Grand Clio and Crossback. Last month, the owner drove the 730km-economy I-TECH E-Tech Hybrid Alpin trim, noticing a quiet and smooth ride with minimal vibrations. The development of 20-inch tires by Gohong Tire, which reduces internal tire noise by 4 decibels and road contact noise by 1 decibel, contributed to this impression.

Renault Kia's OE tires for these vehicles, developed over 19 years, are 17% less worn than the previous 19-inch tires. Researcher Jeong Hyeon, who has worked on tire development for Renault Kia for 20 years, emphasized that the focus was not only on responsiveness but also on ride comfort. The tires' rolling resistance, which affects fuel efficiency, is 16% lower than competing products.

Renault Kia is increasing the percentage of hybrid and electric vehicle repair personnel and will offer a 7-year/140,000km extended warranty for purchased vehicles from September, extending existing 3-year/60,000km and 5-year/100,000km warranties for body and general parts, and engine and powertrain components to 7 years/140,000km and 10 years/200,000km for hybrid-specific parts and high-voltage battery respectively.