Alibaba Is Bringing "Car Vending Machines" to China

Megalith

Megalith

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Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba is bringing automotive vending machines to China later this year: the first actually debuted in 2015, but the company is interested in popularizing the concept further. People are reportedly thrilled at the prospect of not having to deal with salespeople and being able to buy a car with just a mobile app.

To buy a car from the machine, one with a credit score of over 750 on Sesame Credit, Alibaba's consumer credit-scoring system, can simply go to a "vending machine" location, select a model on his or her mobile phone, pay a 10 percent initial fee and drive away with the new car, which is specifically catered to the customer. Later, the customer needs to make a monthly payment via Alipay until full payment is completed. The whole process is powered by Alibaba's new "automotive retail model."
 
I actually like the general concept here. There's really no reason to deal with sales people for something like this, when most car dealers allow you to customize a full vehicle online anyway. The only thing that seems a little... iffy... is having the credit scoring, actual credit line, and car all through a single corporation. That could be good, but it could also go horribly wrong. I'd definitely be reading the fine print on this one.
 
J-Will said:
I'm not buying a car from a building with a giant cat face
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I would totally buy a car from a building with a giant cat face... IF they had exactly the car I wanted, at a competitive price inside.

I have some specific car tastes though, and for me personally, even though I like the overall idea of this, it probably wouldn't work. You can't really buy a lot of the cars I like new. (early to mid-70s 911s and such) To be honest though, it's been a few years since I bought a car like that, and there are some interesting newer cars that I like these days. Still have my eye on some 1977 911S (es) again though, now that my kids are getting a bit older and one is driving now. :woot:
 
Car delealers are such a stupid system. If I buy a new car I want it fully specced how I want it from the factory, not compromised with whatever features it happens to have on the lot. There is no need for a middleman anymore. I guess unless you are just an average person who doesn't really know what they want from a car.
 
Buying a car from a vending machine is a publicity stunt, not the way of the future. China's known for their wacky vending machines. I'm sure this will give Alibaba some publicity/attention by being the very first "vehicle" vending machine. I doubt it will become a way of purchasing vehicles in the future.

As for car dealers, I wouldn't go as far as calling them "stupid". Sure, some of them have shady ethics and tactics, but buying a vehicle from a dealer is much like buying a loaf of bread from the supermarket. Well, minus the annoying salesmen :). If you want something "specialized", you're going to have to order and wait for it. Besides, affordable vehicles only come in a few packages anymore. It's likely you will pay more for a "special" order vehicle than taking a package with more than you really wanted.
 
China is know for wacky vending machines? I think you're thinking of a different country.

So is this similar to the Carvana ones I've driven pass? I thought it looks pretty odd.
 
Hopefully it doesn't end up like their bicycle rentals, with the cars ending up in the bottom of rivers and storm drains!
 
They do, there's a smart car in it. Literally.

Anyway, dealerships are like vending machines anyway, don't like one? Go to the next, they sell the same damn thing.
 
Knowing the China's history of elevator & escalator accidents as seen on youtube, LiveLeak and other video websites elsewhere online, should I entrust this with my beloved truck?

No thanks.

*drives away*
 
OregonLAN said:
Buying a car from a vending machine is a publicity stunt, not the way of the future. China's known for their wacky vending machines. I'm sure this will give Alibaba some publicity/attention by being the very first "vehicle" vending machine. I doubt it will become a way of purchasing vehicles in the future.

As for car dealers, I wouldn't go as far as calling them "stupid". Sure, some of them have shady ethics and tactics, but buying a vehicle from a dealer is much like buying a loaf of bread from the supermarket. Well, minus the annoying salesmen :). If you want something "specialized", you're going to have to order and wait for it. Besides, affordable vehicles only come in a few packages anymore. It's likely you will pay more for a "special" order vehicle than taking a package with more than you really wanted.
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I've never had to play "foursquare" trying to buy loaf of bread. Personally, I can't stand car dealers and hope a similar sales model comes to the US.
 
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