Amazon is placing its personal spin on automotive gross sales — with out a journey to the seller or perhaps a take a look at drive.
The retail large introduced on Tuesday that customers might purchase their subsequent automotive by means of Amazon in the event that they lived in one among 48 main U.S. cities, together with Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Portland by means of “Amazon Autos” on Amazon.com.
Amazon is partnering with Hyundai first, with plans so as to add extra producers and cities within the coming 12 months, the corporate stated. The automobiles are all new and begin at $22,500 in worth. They embody fashions just like the Hyundai Kona, Sonata Hybrid, and Elantra.
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In turning to on-line automotive gross sales, Amazon joins a market already occupied by different on-line automotive retailers like Edmunds, Carvana, Shift, and Vroom, however these websites additionally function used automobiles on the market; in the meanwhile Amazon solely presents new automobiles.
What would occur if I attempted to purchase a automotive from Amazon? Listed below are the professionals and cons that emerged once I tried out the brand new function.
Professional: Transparency
Amazon says that customers can see clear pricing upfront with Amazon Autos, and I wasn’t disillusioned. Clicking right into a automotive, a brand new 2025 Hyundai Elantra SE, I used to be in a position to see an in depth worth breakdown, right down to the carpeted flooring mats ($210) and the way a lot the seller charged in comparison with the Producer Recommend Retail Worth (MSRP).
Pricing by means of Amazon Autos.
I used to be additionally in a position to estimate the month-to-month fee primarily based on the down fee and mortgage time period.
The product web page additionally transparently outlined the situation of the automotive, how a lot mileage it had on it, and the phrases of the producer’s guarantee.
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Con: Choice
Proper now, Amazon is just promoting Hyundai automobiles, so automobiles from different automakers are nowhere to be discovered.
This con might quickly disappear: Amazon says it can add automobiles from different producers in 2025.
Nevertheless, the choice can also be restricted in worth, with the most affordable automotive promoting for $22,510 excluding charges, taxes, and seller expenses. There are not any used automobiles out there on the market on the time of writing.
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Professional: Acquainted Interface
Shopping for a automotive by means of Amazon Autos felt like purchasing on Amazon, so I felt proper at dwelling. There have been classes like worth, mannequin 12 months, and trim colour on the left-hand facet, and there have been merchandise in a listing sorted by worth within the middle.
Despite the fact that the automotive product class is new to Amazon, the acquainted interface made the method straightforward to navigate.
How Amazon Autos appears to be like.
Con: No Negotiating Energy
Amazon says that it exhibits clear pricing, “eliminating the necessity for negotiation.” I can purchase a automotive and full my complete order, together with securing financing, with out speaking to a human being in regards to the worth and making an attempt to barter it down.
Whereas it may be much less demanding to have the entire course of on-line, it is usually much less private. And I am unable to assist questioning if I am getting the perfect deal on-line or if I’d be higher off getting into particular person.
This, together with the restricted vary of choice, in the end dissuaded me from shopping for a automotive from Amazon — for now.
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