Carvana announced the opening of the country's first vehicle vending machine in Atlanta. Ga. The cutting-edge facility was established to offer customers increased flexibility on pick-up options after purchasing a vehicle online at Carvana.com.
The vending machine is located in Atlanta's West Midtown neighborhood and boasts three bays that allow for simultaneous pickups. Company representatives will be available on site to answer any questions that customers may have in regards to their new vehicle, if needed. The vending machine concept is an integral part of the company's expansion plans, with additional locations planned to launch in 2014.
The structure provides a full digitally interactive experience complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, custom LED lighting, flat screen TV's and interactive keypads that identify customers based on unique buyer credentials provided by Carvana after the purchase has been completed. With around-the-clock pick up availability, vehicles purchased on Carvana.com will be available for test drive and pick up as early as 24-hours.
"Brands like Amazon and eBay have demonstrated the consumer's appetite for purchasing large and small items online while paving the way for 'quick ship' delivery. Our goal from the beginning has been to create an online user experience that's as simple and intuitive as shopping on Amazon or Zappos, but with even greater flexibility and service around the delivery," said Ernie Garcia, founder and president of Carvana, in a prepared statement. "With our new vending machine concept, we believe we are at the forefront of the future of retail vending, where consumers will shop online and pick-up at a vending-machine. While we're not pioneering that concept, we are pushing the envelope in introducing it to an industry with a primary distribution point that has been a four-hour, exhaustive commitment to a dealership."
