Amazon is dipping its toe into car sales. The Seattle-based company will begin selling vehicles online next year alongside its other products, according to CNBC. Hyundai will be the first automaker to list new cars on the site.
“How people shop and buy products it’s always evolving,” Marty Mallick, vice president of worldwide corporate business development at Amazon told MotorTrend. “We have a new generation of users that are growing up with a smartphone on their hand. And we saw a demand from our customers that they were seeking from Amazon.”
Shoppers will be able to search for vehicles by model, color, and features, then pay directly on Amazon’s site. The company will offer customers the option to get their new car delivered or pick it up at a local dealership.
Amazon representatives said the partnership with Hyundai will alter “the ease with which customers can buy vehicles online,” creating “another way for dealers to build awareness of their selection and offer convenience to their customers.” Hyundai will feature Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant in its cars beginning in 2025 as part of the deal. Both companies are looking to benefit from the current trend in which consumers are increasingly eager to bypass dealerships, especially when it comes to purchasing new electric vehicles.
“Despite the industry’s focus on improving this experience, customers continue to express frustration with the process,” Hyundai’s chief operating officer José Muñoz said at the Los Angeles Auto Show, according to The Wall Street Journal. “They see how easy it is to buy all the products on Amazon, and they want that convenience when buying a car,” Hyundai’s chief operating officer José Muñoz explained at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Only 15 to 20 dealerships will initially be able to sell their vehicles on Amazon. However, the company plans to incorporate more dealers by the end of next year, as well as expand its car brand offerings.