To keep vehicles moving in the safest, most efficient and planet-friendly way possible, while delivering unparalleled customer service.” If you think this is a mission statement from a brick and mortar independent repair shop, think again.
It’s the mantra of on-site car maintenance and gas delivery provider, Yoshi (www.startyoshi.com), which recently announced an expansion of its business model in Los Angeles — more than doubling its service area in California.
Headquartered in San Francisco, the company was founded in 2015 by three entrepreneurs after a personal experience that highlighted the need for a better alternative to driving to the pump every week.
Supporting its business model is the belief that the automotive industry will change more in the next five years than it has in the last 50. And, to allow that, the infrastructure required to fuel and service vehicles must transform as well, say company executives.
Why is this significant? Because of its quick market acceptance and rapid expansion mode, Yoshi could be your newest competitor for service dollars. It is also operating in several other major cities, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, St. Louis and Tampa/St. Petersburg, with plans to more than quadruple this coverage in 2018.
Most of its customers are individual commuters who use Yoshi to service their vehicle on a weekly basis while it’s parked at work. Many corporations have also begun offering Yoshi service to their employees, and it has been voted the No. 1 perk at the office, ahead of free coffee.
So how does it work? Yoshi provides gas, oil changes, car washes and other car maintenance services directly to customers’ cars while they are parked, eliminating the need to stop for gas or track and schedule routine maintenance. Prices are competitive, and Yoshi’s service is a favorite of many daily commuters across the country, according to the company.
Customers have more choices than ever when it comes to automotive service, especially as new competitors pack a punch in the marketplace, so the service experience you provide needs to be remarkable and memorable.
What steps are you taking to ensure that they don’t eat your service dollars for lunch?
