Daedong Mobility's Golf Cart Revenue in Japan Grows 4.5 Times

Targeting the Annual 350,000-Unit U.S. LSV Market

Daedong Mobility announced on September 14 that it will expand its business model—combining customized local products, production quality, and sales service, which has been validated in the Japanese golf cart market—to the United States, formally intensifying its pursuit of the global low-speed vehicle (LSV) market.

From January to August this year, Daedong Mobility sold 96 golf carts in Japan, generating revenue of approximately 1.6 billion won. Compared to the same period last year, sales volume increased by 3.7 times and revenue by 4.5 times. The company has established a solid sales base in Japan within just over a year of entering the market, marking the start of strong growth momentum.

Japan, which has about 2,500 golf courses, holds the third-largest golf market in the world, with an estimated annual demand for golf carts of around 8,000 units. The share of electric carts is also increasing, rising from 32% in 2021 to around 42% last year, indicating a trend toward electrification in the market. Daedong Mobility has developed dedicated products tailored to these market changes, reflecting the local climate and usage environment. To address the hot and humid climate, built-in air conditioning has been incorporated from the vehicle design stage. In addition, considering that users often drive the carts themselves, the vehicles are equipped with safety features for slope detection and limiting downhill speed.

Built-in Heating and Cooling Golf Cart Supplied by Daedong Mobility to the Japanese Market

The company is also strengthening its local sales and service infrastructure. In January this year, Daedong Mobility signed a contract with Hamada, a major Japanese golf equipment distributor. Hamada has an extensive sales network across key areas such as Kanto, Kansai, Mie, Kyushu, and Okinawa, and has experience supplying products to approximately 800 golf courses in Japan. By leveraging Hamada's network, Daedong Mobility is expanding its sales reach and establishing a robust after-sales management system.

The production and quality competitiveness of the domestic S-Factory is also leading to increased orders. Recently, executives from Japanese golf courses visited the S-Factory to inspect the golf cart production facilities, assembly processes, and quality inspection system firsthand. As a result, they have confirmed the purchase of a total of 60 units over this year and next year. Daedong Mobility has set a goal of achieving annual revenue of 5 billion won from the Japanese golf cart business this year. The company has already secured orders for 150 units, worth around 2.6 billion won, from five golf courses and is in discussions to supply an additional 200 units to about 20 more golf courses.

The company plans to expand the market-proven Japanese model to major overseas markets, including the United States. Rather than simply exporting products, its strategy is to build integrated systems for products, distribution, and services in order to foster golf carts and LSVs as core growth platforms for Daedong Mobility's global smart mobility business. The first target is the United States. Since July, Daedong Mobility has been conducting proof-of-concept (PoC) tests with six-seater premium limousine carts in Utah, Texas, and Georgia. By integrating the PoC results and feedback from local customers by the end of this year, Daedong Mobility plans to refine its U.S. business model and product specifications, with the goal of entering the market next year. 

Kyungjun Park, Head of the Mobility Business Division at Daedong Mobility, stated, "We have confirmed the competitiveness of our business model with locally customized products, production quality, and a sales and service network in Japan. We aim to expand the market entry model established in Japan to key markets such as the United States, developing golf carts and LSVs into Daedong Mobility’s global growth engines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.