Is Austin getting a car-vending machine?

Carvana, an online used-car dealership that offers buyers free, next-day within 100 miles of one of its distribution centers, appears to be building one of its vending-machine-like towers in Austin, according to the Austin Business Journal.

The publication reported Thursday that the Phoenix-based company is building a small four-story tower encased in glass at 6014 S. Hwy. I-35 on the Far South Austin “Motor MIle,” where a number of car dealers are located.

The Journal noted that the company had already established a presence in Austin and that it already has tall glass towers that function essentially like vending machines for cars in Nashville and Houston (the tallest being in the latter city, of course).

According to the ABJ article, permits filed for 7,600-square-foot auto sales center at the site have been filed with the, city, stating a project value of $1.35 million and naming Dallas’ McRight-Smith Construction of Dallas as the general contractor.

ABJ could not confirm with a Carvana representative that the building will be a vending tower but observed that photos appear to show that it’s likely.

• Carvana goes vertical in Austin with possible car vending machine [ABJ]