Alibaba wants to sell you a car from a vending machine

Alibaba vehicle vending.
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/Alibaba Group)

Buying chips from a vending machine is so 2017. In 2018, buying a car with the push of a button is where it's at.

Alibaba, a massive online retailer often referred to as the "Amazon of China," unveiled a video concept of its "Auto Vending Machine" on Wednesday. It's an attempt to simplify car buying, letting users browse, test drive and buy a car in a matter of minutes.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.