Will this Chinese car vending machine spell the end of the car salesman? With car manufacturing already in turmoil, this innovation may turn another Australian industry on its head.
The city is named Hangzhou. It is home to some 9 million residents. It’s also heavily promoting the use of rental electric-powered vehicles – through giant vending machines.
It’s all a response to China’s explosive love-affair with personal vehicles – combined with a severe lack of space and choking air pollution.
The situation is so bad that the Chinese government has started rationing new license plates and new quotas are being placed on the numbers of electric and gas-powered vehicles on the market.
The Hangzhou solution removes several impediments in one fell-swoop: 100,000 handy, ready-to-use cars distributed via vending machine.
Pay for your use at a flat $3.50 hourly rate. When you’re done, return it to any free vending machine slot.
Long-term car leases are also available. The monthly fee of around $150 gives you access to the cars, insurance, maintenance and fuel (electricity recharges).
In case you’re wondering, vending machines will come in sizes ranging from 30 cars through to 300.
Some 750 such machines are expected to built in the city; 50 will be ready by March.
The Geely electric cars themselves have a range of 120 kilometers and a top speed of 80km/h.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.