The first vending machine for the sale of cars appeared in China

In Guangzhou (Guangdong Province, South China), it became possible to buy or test a car using a vending machine operating on the principle of a vending machine. This is the result of a partnership between the American manufacturer Ford and the Chinese Internet giant Alibaba, which the companies agreed on in 2016. "Buying a car will become as simple as buying a can of Cola," said Yu Wei, the head of Tmall.com (a subsidiary of Alibaba).

Source: Tech Crunch

There are more than 40 Ford models, including the Explorer SUV, Mustang, Edge and Everest, in a multi-level twenty-meter shopping center called the "Super Test Drive Center".

To make a purchase, you need to select the desired model in the Tmall mobile application, pay the full cost (or 10% when buying on credit) and pick up the car from the device. In the same way, the car can be taken for a three-day test drive. The user needs to specify the estimated time of the trip and take a selfie for the facial recognition system.

In the case of installment payment, the buyer pays the remaining amount using the Alipay system, that is, the machine uses the Alibaba ecosystem and offers discounts and promotions based on the behavior of customers.

In the future, similar machines are planned to be installed in Beijing and Hangzhou (the administrative center of Zhejiang Province). However, now the law does not regulate the issuance of license plates for a car purchased in a vending machine.

The idea to sell cars using automatic devices appeared back in 1905. This storage method almost eliminates theft and damage, and also allows you to place more goods in a smaller area. The first vending machines for the sale of cars were installed in the USA by Carvana.

The work of a vending machine for the sale of cars in Singapore.