The car wash industry continues to thrive in America, as well as Canada and other parts of the world. According to recent research, the total size of the car wash market exceeded $30 billion in 2022, with the United States accounting for just over half of the global market share. Although smaller self-serving automatic wash tunnels and express washes are ubiquitous around the globe, a new type of business is rapidly turning heads in the industry. It’s called a megawash, and these huge facilities take the wash experience to a mind-blowing new level.
So what is a car wash megawash, and what makes it so different? This article covers everything you need to know about the megawash trend, including its evolution, the types of services these businesses provide, and why they have become so popular.
Car Wash Megawash 101
Business owners seeking a new type of car wash investment are drawn to the idea of a car wash megawash as a means to increase customer traffic and annual revenue — and ultimately provide a much broader spectrum of services to visitors. However, megawashes go above and beyond what typical car washes offer, providing customers with a unique experience.
What Constitutes a Megawash in the Car Wash Industry?
As the name suggests, megawashes are the largest car washes in the business today. With their state-of-the-art car wash equipment, massive size, and exceptional level of service, megawashes can serve a far larger volume of customers than their smaller counterparts.
Often covering many tens of thousands of square feet, megawashes can feature multiple double wash tunnels, a myriad of atypical services, and top-tier amenities for waiting customers to enjoy. These giant washes can be hundreds of feet long. One of the largest car washes in the world is Mr. Wash in the city of Stuttgart in Germany. With a mind-boggling 250,000 sq ft. of space, it has 100 employees make more than 400 cars shine at the same time.
Mega washes in North America are growing as well, in size and number. The world’s longest car wash is Buc-ees in Katy, TX, with the 255 feet of conveyor. With that said, the sheer size and scope of a megawash aren’t the only things that set it apart from a smaller car wash business.
Megawashes are engineered for speed and convenience, allowing customers to get in and out much more quickly at a comparable price point to small to medium-sized competitors.
The Evolution of Car Wash Facilities to Megawashes
The very first semiautomatic car wash opened in 1946. Invented by Thomas Simpson, these rudimentary conveyor systems and washing brushes had to be controlled by hand. Over the following decades, car washes became fully automated and far more efficient, allowing for ever-increasing volumes of customers.
As technology continued to evolve to the modern day, car wash equipment invariably became far more advanced, eventually giving rise to the megawash phenomenon seen today.
It’s no secret that today’s fast-paced, digital world has contributed to a consumer climate that values speed and convenience. With a megawash, people no longer need to visit multiple businesses to cover all their car care needs. Instead, customers can drive to a nearby megawash for everything from interior detailing and clear coating to filling up their gas tanks or charging their electric vehicles. Plus, people are naturally fascinated by size. Nobody ever drove miles away to visit the world’s smallest car wash!
Key Features of a Car Wash Megawash
Several characteristics set megawashes apart from other car washes. Aside from their huge size, megawashes also tend to feature several unique services and amenities that are difficult to find in one place.
Here are some of the main features that differentiate a car wash megawash from other businesses in the industry.
Expansive Size and High-Volume Traffic Handling
The enormous size of car wash megawashes allows them to serve many more customers. This enhanced capacity can attract people seeking the fastest service possible without sacrificing quality. While it may take smaller car washes up to 30 minutes or more to turn over a vehicle, megawashes can often do the job in half the time.
Increased Range of Services Provided
More than simply a big car wash, a megawash seeks to deliver many different service options for customers during their visit. Aside from multiple double wash tunnels, megawashes also typically offer dozens of self-serve vacuum stations, several bays reserved for interior detailing or body coats, and even alteration services for customizing customer vehicles. Additional atypical services may include oil changes, tire rotations, and other car maintenance essentials.
Innovative Features Like Indoor Play Parks and Electric Vehicle Charging
What truly makes a car wash megawash stand out are all the extra features and service options available. Amenities like indoor play parks are perfect for customers with kids, while perks like a conjoined gas station or electric vehicle (EV) charging station can save visitors valuable time.
But not all of the innovative add-ons megawashes offer have to be related to car care. For example, at the Auto Spa megawash in Ontario, Canada, an on-site Starbucks provides customers easy access to drinks and snacks while they wait.
An All-in-One Service Location
Another critical aspect of a car wash megawash is its convenient, all-in-one location that provides customers with everything they need in one visit. Traditional car washes usually only provide exterior and interior cleaning, with the occasional option to add tire detailing or a wax job. At many megawashes, customers shouldn’t be surprised to find many vehicle maintenance services available, including window replacement, body repair, flat tire replacement, tune-ups, and more.
Megawashes also tend to offer a variety of car care products, car wash tools, and cleaning supplies for visitors to purchase on the premises, including microfiber towels or upholstery protectants.
Benefits of Operating a Car Wash Megawash
There are many solid reasons why business owners should consider opening a large car wash megawash. If you’re considering building a megawash from scratch or upgrading your current location, it can help to review some of the advantages.
Here are the main benefits of operating a car wash megawash today.
Enhanced Customer Experience and Reduced Wait Times
One of the most prominent benefits of a car wash megawash is its ability to accommodate large volumes of customers while reducing wait times to a bare minimum. Unlike at smaller car washes,megawash customers are virtually guaranteed consistently speedy service, even during peak business hours.
Best of all, car wash megawashes provide customers with a climate-controlled environment all year, giving visitors a comfortable respite from the elements. Meanwhile, customers can enjoy watching the carefully orchestrated work in the wash bays from inside cozy lobbies often fitted with televisions, vending machines, Wi-Fi, and other modern conveniences. This combination of incredibly efficient service and creature comforts lets car wash megawashes deliver a top-tier customer experience every time.
Diversified Revenue Streams With Multiple Services
One of the drawbacks to conventional car washes is the relatively limited number of services they offer. Since these businesses often rely on a single income stream earned from washing exteriors or detailing, it’s not unusual for them to experience seasonal lulls due to fluctuating demand. This isn’t a problem with car wash megawashes that enjoy many different income streams throughout the year.
If, at any time, the number of customers seeking cleaning services declines, owners of a megawash can rely on other income sources to compensate. In this way, megawashes are far more resilient than smaller, local indoor car wash businesses when faced with economic downturns or shifts in seasonal demand.
Location and Cost Considerations for Megawash Facilities
Before constructing or acquiring a car wash megawash, it’s a good idea to create a car wash business plan outlining all the financial details. As you would expect, the car wash costs for these massive facilities can be significant, and finding a prime location for your business can further compound your initial expenses.
Ideally, a car wash megawash should be built with plenty of room to grow and accommodate additional services as demand allows. With that said, it’s always best to spend more on the highest quality car wash components available from the start, as cutting corners with used or obsolete components may only create costly maintenance issues later on.
At National Car Wash Solutions, we work with car wash businesses of all sizes. We take pride in providing our valued clients with all the resources, expertise, support, and equipment they need to keep operations running smoothly. In addition to delivering today’s most cutting-edge car wash solutions from the industry’s biggest names, we also offer comprehensive repair, part replacement, and maintenance services for all your components. And we work with today’s most trusted brands to provide top-tier, ultra-concentrated car wash chemicals that can help you save more money in the long run.
Secure Your Investment by Partnering With the Industry Experts
For car wash businesses of any size, partnering with industry experts can make the task much easier to manage. The National Car Wash Solutions team will help guide you through the process, working closely with you to meet all your equipment and inventory needs. Big success doesn’t require a gigantic facility. Still, thinking big is part of the fun of any car wash endeavor. When you’re ready to learn more about how NCS can make your car wash megawash a success, contact us to get started.
