Vending machine dispenses Ferraris

Luxury supercars are displayed inside the AutoBahn Motors (ABM) building in Singapore on May 18, 2017.
The building, which resembles an automobile ‘vending machine’ houses 60 of the million-dollar supercars owned by ABM owners Gary and Jack Hong, who invented the Automotive Inventory Management System (AIMS). AFP

SINGAPORE — A vending machine that dispenses luxury cars to well-heeled buyers is the latest space-saving innovation in land-starved Singapore — just don’t try to shake it if it gets stuck.

Used car dealer Gary Hong has taken to displaying his wares in a glass-fronted, 15-story building.

Like choosing a chocolate bar, the buyer can see everything on display, before pressing some buttons and having their choice delivered.

Hong, 45, said he got the inspiration for the new showroom during a trip with his 4-year-old son to buy toy cars.

“From there I realized that the Matchbox arrangement is a mini version of our inventories that can be displayed and arranged nicely,” he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

From the comfort of a plush sofa on the ground floor, potential buyers can order a  among other brands, all with the touch of a handheld device.

Once a selection is made, a promotional video of that car is played on a flat-screen television while the vehicle is automatically transported down by a lift.

“When the customers see a car that is presented in a best way like a beauty pageant, they just decide that this is a winner, and we got a deal,” said Hong, who added that sales have risen by 30 percent.

With a population density ranked by the World Bank to be third highest in the world, land comes at a premium in the tiny city-state.

The company stores between 70 and 80 cars at its facility—an amount that would otherwise require five times the space if the vehicles are parked traditionally, Hong said.

A similar car vending concept currently exists in the United States, through online auto retailer Carvana, which was reported to have five such facilities around the country as of April. —AFP