Wal-Mart testing out used-car businesses

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The world&#39;s largest retailer is taking a test drive in the used-car business. <br> <br> Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is planning to lease property adjacent to five of its stores in the Houston area to a Connecticut-based car sales company for six months, Wal-Mart spokesman Jay Allen said Tuesday. <br> <br> Allen said Wal-Mart and Asbury Automotive Inc. will then evaluate the program and decide where to go from there. Wal-Mart&#39;s only involvement will be to lease the property and help Asbury Automotive develop the program, he said. <br> <br> By early May, Houston shoppers could be able to bank, get their hair done, buy groceries, new clothes and a car, gas up and go -- all from the same location. <br> <br> The Bentonville-based Wal-Mart and Asbury Automotive will announce later which five Wal-Mart locations in Texas will be the first to open the Price 1 Auto Stores. The store name refers to the &#34;no haggle&#34; set price for each vehicle, Allen said. <br> <br> Each lot will have an assortment of 60 to 100 foreign and domestic cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Allen would not say why Wal-Mart chose the Houston market for the new venture. <br> <br> Advertising would be minimal and consist of posters in area stores, Allen said. &#34;The whole idea is with Wal-Mart&#39;s traffic, you don&#39;t need to do much advertising,&#34; he said. <br> <br>

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