Addressing Regional Mobility Issues: Kuruma Terrace Opens 3rd Physical Store in Yotsukaido City, Chiba

Kuruma Terrace Co., Ltd. (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Makoto Watanabe), which operates a used car sales business utilizing credit recovery loans, has opened a new physical store in Yotsukaido City, Chiba Prefecture. This marks the company's third location.

Focusing on the Car-Dependent Lifestyle of Growing Yotsukaido Under the mission 'Providing new options for everyone who needs a car,' the company offers used car sales nationwide. It has provided purchasing opportunities to individuals who are often disadvantaged in traditional auto loan screenings due to reasons such as personal bankruptcy, voluntary liquidation, or payment delays, by leveraging a network of partner loan companies. Yotsukaido City, the site of the new store, is a region with a growing population and high dependence on automobiles. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Person Trip Survey, the automobile share of transportation in Yotsukaido exceeds the Chiba Prefecture average, highlighting the area's strong character as a car-dependent society compared to neighboring municipalities.

Cars as Essential Life Infrastructure for Commuting, Schooling, and Childcare Especially in residential areas away from station centers, cars are indispensable for daily life due to hills and elevation changes. Cars are required not just for commuting and schooling, but as infrastructure supporting life itself, including shopping, hospital visits, and childcare. However, with rising prices and changes in the interest rate environment, there is an increasing number of people who 'need a car but cannot afford one.' Kuruma Terrace is addressing this 'mobility gap' in regional areas through community-rooted store expansion.

Strengthening Community-Based Consulting for Future Growth According to the 2020 census, Yotsukaido's population was approximately 93,576, an increase of about 4,300 from 2015. Growth is expected to continue until around 2030, with further expansion in housing and lifestyle demand. This new store will strengthen the community-based consultation system that cannot be fully handled online, meeting the needs of customers who wish to consult while viewing actual vehicles.

CEO Comment: Makoto Watanabe, CEO of Kuruma Terrace Co., Ltd. 'In many regional and suburban areas, life simply does not function without a car. Yet, there are people who need a car but cannot have one because they fail loan screenings for various reasons. We are not just a company that sells used cars; we want to create a society where no one has to give up on mobility. Yotsukaido was a region where this social issue was particularly visible. We will strive to be a presence that supports daily life as a community-rooted store.'

Store Overview * Store Name: Kuruma Terrace Yotsukaido Branch * Opening Date: Friday, May 1, 2026 * Location: 617-7 Nakadai, Yotsukaido City, Chiba Prefecture * Business Hours: Weekdays 13:00-21:00 / Weekends & Holidays 10:00-19:00

Future Outlook The company will continue to expand stores primarily in regional and suburban areas. Currently, many face disadvantages in auto loan screenings due to non-regular employment, freelance status, or past financial history. Ironically, the hurdle for car ownership is often highest for those who need it most for their daily lives. Kuruma Terrace will strengthen proposals focusing on 'current repayment ability' and 'potential for life reconstruction' that cannot be measured by uniform screenings alone. Through collaboration with partner loan companies, the company aims to realize a society where no one has to give up on car ownership.