Getting groceries, and perhaps a car to drive them home

Beginning this weekend, Walmart Inc. is expanding its car-buying program with CarSaver to 250 stores. The CarSaver Shopping Center kiosks in Walmart stores have been in pilot mode at 14 locations since 2017.

Miami-based CarSaver is a digital automotive marketplace that will use its network of certified dealerships, banks and insurance companies to support its car ­shopping and buying assistance to Walmart customers. In addition, every vehicle bought through CarSaver comes with a lifetime warranty.

“We’re constantly looking for innovative services that help us save busy families money and time,” Daniel Eckert, senior vice president of Walmart Services and Digital Acceleration, said in a statement. “CarSaver’s unique platform helps our customers understand the true cost of ownership, while also helping them save money with buying, financing, leasing and insuring a new or used vehicle.”

According to a report in Adweek, CarSaver uses its car dealer network to provide a better customer experience, including upfront pricing. Once a buyer finds what he wants, he’s connected with an “express manager” to test drive or pick up the car at a local dealership, which is within a 15- to 20-minute driving distance from a Walmart supercenter.

CarSaver will also help customers sell their cars by providing a cash offer from a network of dealers who place bids, as well as a vehicle purchase program for Walmart employees.

In addition, PYMNTS.com reports that Ally Financial is offering gift card incentives to Walmart customers who finance through Ally using the CarSaver site.

“We are honored to work with CarSaver to help make it easier for Walmart customers to get the car they want at a payment they can afford,” said Tim Russi, president of auto finance at Ally, one of the largest auto finance providers in the country.

A Walmart representative said locations will open in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana and Virginia soon, as well as on a microsite on Walmart.com.