I guess we’ve all got used to buying packets of sweets and other items from vending machines but how about a vending machine for a car?

No I jest not!

Following on the heels of used car sellers, Autobahn of Singapore and US company, Carvana, Chinese vending company ALIBABA is planning to open its first vending machine for new cars next year in a bid to make buying a car “as easy as buying a can of Coke”. 

Billed as the “world’s largest luxury car vending machine” Autobahn  Motors opened its futuristic 15-storey showroom in Singapore last year. Autobahn’s vending machine displays vehicles in 60 slots, with customers on the ground floor able to choose from a touchscreen display the car they wish to see.

The car arrives within two minutes thanks to an advanced system that manages vehicle retrieval.

Meanwhile in March this year, US company Carvana opened an eight-floor structure that holds up to 30 cars in San Antonio, Texas and uses vending machine-like towers to sell used cars.

Now Alibaba plans to follow in in the footsteps of these entrepreneurs with the launch of its own car vending machine allowing buyers to browse cars on their smartphones and press the buy button, which then releases the car from a vertical display tower.

According to reports, Alibaba plans to plug its vending machines into its online system that incorporates financing and data about a car buyer’s credit rating.

Buyers with a high enough credit rating from Alibaba’s scoring system will be able to drive off in their car after providing a 10pc deposit, paying monthly instalments thereafter.

Now there’s a novelty!

Margaret Mills joined me again today to relate the grisly tale of Samuel Clark, the body snatcher of Great Leighs.

You can listen again to what Margaret told me by clicking on the following link: –

See you again next week,
Scott