The One About Car Washes

The history of car washes in the United States is a story of technological innovation and automation, evolving from manual labor to sophisticated machines that have streamlined the process and reduced human involvement.

The early history of car washes in the United States involved manual, labor-intensive processes.

The dawn of car washing dates back to the early 20th century, coinciding with the spread of automobiles across the country.

In the early 20th century, the first "automobile laundries" emerged on the West Coast, involving teams of workers manually cleaning cars.

The introduction of the Model T spurred the emergence of the first automobile laundries on the West Coast, in cities like Portland and San Francisco. These operations required manual labor, with teams dedicated to cleaning automobiles by hand.

The 1920s saw the introduction of the first semi-automated car wash system with a conveyor belt and assembly line of workers.

As the car wash industry evolved, Detroit became a hub for innovation. Frank McCormick and J.W. Hinkle opened an automobile laundry there in 1913. By the 1920s, Cunningham's automobile laundry in Chicago introduced a more efficient semi-automated system using an assembly line approach and a tow line to move cars through the cleaning process.

Technological advancements in the mid-20th century led to more automated car wash systems.

Technological advances in the mid-20th century saw significant strides toward automation in car wash systems, thereby reducing the reliance on manual labor.

In the 1940s, Minuteman systems introduced the first fully automated car wash equipment, reducing the number of required workers.

In the 1940s, Thomas Simpson created a semi-automatic system that incorporated a conveyor belt but still required human operation. In 1946, Leo Russo significantly advanced the industry with his Minuteman system, which aimed to fully automate the car washing process but had been delayed due to wartime steel requisitions.

The 1950s saw the development of the first truly automated car washes, such as Elephant Car Wash, that used machinery rather than human labor.

The Anderson brothers took automation further in 1951 when they opened Elephant Car Wash in Seattle. Their system is recognized as the first truly automated car wash, operating without the need for human touch in the cleani ...

The car wash industry has witnessed a significant shift towards automation, aiming to minimize human labor for improved efficiency and cost savings.

The car wash industry has continuously sought to minimize the number of human workers involved.

Historically, car washes required a substantial amount of human labor, with early operations involving 40 to 50 workers in an assembly line-style process to clean just one vehicle. With the advent of technological advancements, like the Minuteman system, the workforce needed for a single car wash plummeted to as few as eight employees, ushering in a new era of automation within the industry.

Automation and machine-based cleaning have become the dominant models in the industry.

Chuck Bryant remarks on the prevalence of automation in car washes, observing that many who complain about automation on social media simultaneously use these automated car wash services. Bryant highlights that car washes were one of the first sectors to replace human labor with machines. By 1955, driven by systems like Rousseau's Minuteman, the number of car washes rose sharply, reflecting the industry's trend towards automation.

Modern car washes can operate with minimal human oversight, such as express exterior car washes that function with only a single attendant to direct customer traffic. Josh Clark points out the possibility of a fully automated car wash system with just one person interacting with customers, a testament to the advancement in technology and operational efficiency.

Touchless car washes use only water, chemicals, and air to clean vehicles without any physical contact.

Among the latest advancements is the Laser Wash 360, a touchless car wash system that eschews physical brushes in favor of water, chemicals, and air, demonstrating a significant leap in technology that prioritizes efficiency and mitigates the potential for damage like water spots.

The drive towards automation is motivated by business factors like cost ...

Given the significant changes in the car wash industry, Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark delve into the intricacies of current business models and their economic repercussions, also touching upon environmental considerations.

The subscription-based car wash model has become increasingly prevalent

Subscription services encourage customers to visit more frequently, generating reliable revenue for car wash operators

Chuck Bryant reveals that attendants at his local car wash are focused on selling subscriptions, as this is where the real money is. He eventually understood that their helpfulness at the touchscreen integrates with attempts to sell these lucrative subscription services.

Subscription models can be highly profitable, with some earning over $1.5 million in annual revenue

Josh Clark elaborates on the profitability of the car wash subscription model, which has created a boom in the industry due to its appeal. Subscriptions often sell for around $25 in contrast to a single wash priced at $10, incentivizing customers to opt for the recurring option. This model allows frequent users to benefit, whereas infrequent users may inadvertently subsidize the high usage of others, bolstering the profitability for car wash businesses.

The rapid growth of the car wash industry has led to oversaturation concerns in some areas

New car washes are being built at a faster rate than ever before, with over 60,000 nationwide and projections for 120,000 by 2030

With more than 60,000 car washes currently in operation across the United States and expectations potentially doubling by 2030, the last decade has seen an unprecedented construction boom for car washes.

Some towns are imposing moratoriums on new car wash construction due to concerns about lack of economic benefit and potential for future abandonment

Clark and Bryant note that some communities are instituting moratoriums on new car wash builds, as these businesses are seen to provide minimal employment, contribute little to tax revenues, and risk becoming derelict like the abandoned shopping malls dotting the landscape.

Environmental factors are an increasing consideration for car wash operations ...