Amazon expanded Monday into online car sales with the launch of Amazon Autos, an e-commerce business that lets customers find, order, and buy new cars, trucks, and SUVs from dealerships.
Amazon is kicking off the new endeavor with Hyundai in 48 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. The launch comes a little more than a year since the e-commerce giant announced plans to start selling vehicles on its website in the second half of 2024. Amazon said it will add more cities and additional auto manufacturers in 2025.
Amazon Autos will function, in many ways, like the rest of the broader Amazon e-commerce ecosystem. Shoppers will be able to search for available vehicles from participating dealers by model, trim, color, and features. Notably, customers will also be able to secure financing and e-sign paperwork via the Amazon Autos site. Once the payment is finalized, customers can schedule when to pick up their vehicle from that dealership.
When vehicles go on sale at Amazon, the local dealer (for now just Hyundai dealers) will be the seller of record. Amazon Autos will even handle trade ins.
The online car sales market is crowded. However, most of companies in this business — a list that includes AutoTrader, Carvana, and Carmax — sell used vehicles. Customers browsing Amazon Autos will only be able to buy new cars. The company said it plans to add leasing and expanded financing options next year.
Amazon has the reach that automakers like Hyundai may find appealing. Consumers may also be won over by Amazon Autos’ promise to provide transparent pricing from local dealers, eliminating the need for negotiation. In other words, no haggling. The price customers see at check-out is the price they pay, inclusive of all taxes and fees, Amazon said.
