Used-car platform AutoHands adds signature scent to interior care program

Standards for used-car conditioning are expanding beyond appearance and mechanical performance to cover interior hygiene and odor management. AutoHands has taken that a step further by adding a signature scent to Cesco's vehicle sterilization and deodorization solution.

AutoHands announced Monday that it would introduce an exclusive paper air freshener — developed in partnership with Cesco — for vehicles on its used-car platform AutoInside that have undergone Cesco's car care treatment.

The Cesco car care solution manages sterilization and deodorization inside vehicle cabins. AutoHands has applied the service to the conditioning process for AutoInside certified used cars since April.

The latest step adds a fragrance element to that process — a first in the domestic used-car industry, the company said.

The scent chosen is Cesco's "Bridal Flower," a blend of rose, lily and lilac notes developed by Cesco's in-house perfumers with the vehicle interior environment in mind.

AutoHands considers the sensory impression a customer gets the moment they open a car door part of the vehicle's overall quality. While the existing program focused on reducing traces of daily use, contamination and odors, the company has now extended that scope to include scent management.

The sterilization step uses a disinfectant made from food-additive-grade ingredients, designed to help eliminate bacteria and viruses that may remain on interior surfaces.

For deodorization, the company uses a fabric deodorizer containing persimmon leaf and green tea extracts, targeting the absorption and removal of odor-causing compounds. AutoHands said the treatment can help reduce odor-causing substances by up to 99 percent.

AutoHands has also been expanding its offline sales network. Last month it opened a new company-owned showroom at Auto Collection in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, bringing its total number of directly operated showrooms nationwide to six. The move is aimed at broadening the company's reach for used-car buyers and sellers in the southern Greater Seoul area.

The company also runs a flood-damage protection program: if a vehicle purchased through AutoInside is found to have a flood history within 90 days of purchase, AutoHands refunds the vehicle price and transfer registration fees and provides compensation of up to 10 million won ($7,230).

"In the used-car market, interior hygiene and the comfort customers experience firsthand are just as important a quality factor as mechanical performance," said Kim Seong-jun, chief executive of AutoHands. "By adding a fragrance element to Cesco's professional vehicle hygiene solution, we will further strengthen AutoInside's vehicle care standards and introduce a range of services that enhance customer satisfaction."