HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carvana, a better way to buy a car, announced today the opening of the nation’s largest fully-automated, coin-operated Car Vending Machine in Houston – the second of its kind in the country. The proprietary Car Vending Machine offers a unique and fun pick-up experience for customers who purchase a car online through the company.
The Houston Car Vending Machine stands eight stories tall, stores up to 30 cars and contains four delivery bays, making it three stories taller and one delivery bay larger than its sister location in Nashville, Tenn., which the company launched in late 2015. As a nod to the Bayou City, the all-glass structure also features the Houston cityscape emblazoned on the delivery bay doors.
“People responded so positively to our Nashville Vending Machine that we knew we had to bring the experience to additional markets. Houston is a natural fit for a Car Vending Machine, and we are thrilled to be able to offer customers this unique and, we hope, memorable pick-up option in addition to the free, as-soon-as next day delivery services we launched in Houston late last year,” said Ernie Garcia, founder and CEO of Carvana. “As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, so our first Car Vending Machine in the state had to reflect that mantra. We’re incredibly excited to show just how fun and stress-free buying a car can be with Carvana.”
Carvana customers search for and buy their desired car online at Carvana.com using a mobile phone or desktop computer. This includes the option of vehicle financing through Carvana, as well as the option to trade-in a car. Once the purchase is complete, customers can choose to have their car delivered directly to their door, or they can elect to pick it up at one of Carvana’s Car Vending Machines. At the time of pick-up at the Vending Machine, the customer receives an oversized Carvana coin to drop into the custom coin slot, initiating the vending process. The purchased car is then automatically retrieved from the tower and moved through the machine until it reaches a delivery bay, where the customer takes possession.
The Carvana Houston Vending Machine is located at 10939 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 9am to 7pm CST. Vehicle pickup at the Houston Vending Machine is free for all Carvana customers. For those customers who live 100 miles outside of the Houston metropolitan area but want to pick up their car at the Vending Machine, Carvana will subsidize $200 in airfare and arrange white glove transportation from the Houston airport.
To learn more about Carvana’s coin-operated Car Vending Machines and see them in action, visit: carvana.com/vendingmachine.
About Carvana
Founded in 2013 and based in Phoenix, Ariz., Carvana’s mission is to give customers a better car-buying experience by removing the dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service. By leveraging e-commerce technology, Carvana has transformed car buying, creating a start-to-finish online shopping platform that has allowed customers to complete their purchase in less than 15 minutes, and in 2016 saved customers an average of $1,461 per purchase versus Kelley Blue Book’s suggested retail price. Additionally, Carvana launched the world’s first-ever automated, coin-operated Car Vending Machine in Nashville, Tenn.
Carvana offers consumers an intuitive and convenient online automotive retail platform, with a fully transactional website that enables consumers to quickly and easily buy a car online, including finding their preferred vehicle, qualifying for financing, completing the purchase and loan with signed contracts, and receiving delivery or pickup of the vehicle as soon as the next day. Carvana cars are guaranteed to be accident-free, undergo a rigorous 150-point inspection and feature a 100-day/4,189-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, as well as a 7-Day Test Own period during which customers can return their car for any reason for a full refund. Carvana continues to revolutionize the car-buying process through technology, transparency and great customer service, while eliminating the pressure, hassles and hidden fees that come with buying from a dealership.
For further information on Carvana please visit www.carvana.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.