Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba last year signed a partnership with Ford which would see both companies work together on new technological opportunities. Alibaba is well renowned for the innovativeness that has driven it to the top as China’s number one e-commerce giant. Both companies have now unveiled a cat-themed car vending machine in Guangzhou, China. The vending machine lets customers easily test-drive Ford vehicles they’re looking to buy.
Alibaba and Ford signed a deal to form a partnership last year that would see both companies working together on new technological opportunities. Now, the companies have opened a cat-themed car vending machine in Guangzhou, China, that lets customers easily test-drive Ford vehicles they’re looking to buy.
Read More: Alibaba Acquires $2.9 Billion Stake In China’s Offline Retail Giant, Sun Art
The “Super Test-Drive Center” is without any staff manning it and is fully digitalised. It works with Alibaba’s Tmall app. From the app, users select the car model they are interested in, put down a deposit electronically, schedule a pickup time, and snap a selfie so the vending machine can recognize them when they pick up the car for a test drive. Customers having a very respectable credit score of 700 and above get to test drive the car of their choice free. Not just for a day, but for three days! Those with lower credit rating will have to pay a fee to be able to test drive the cars. The credit rating is based on Alibaba’s affiliate, Ant Financial’s credit ranking known as Zima or Sesame Credit.
(source)
