Amazon is placing its personal spin on automotive gross sales — with out a journey to the seller or perhaps a check drive.
The retail large introduced on Tuesday that customers might purchase their subsequent automotive by Amazon in the event that they lived in one in every of 48 main U.S. cities, together with Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Portland by “Amazon Autos” on Amazon.com.
Amazon is partnering with Hyundai first, with plans so as to add further producers and cities within the coming yr, the corporate mentioned. The vehicles 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 characteristic used vehicles on the market; in the mean time Amazon solely provides new vehicles.
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 characteristic.
Professional: Transparency
Amazon says that customers can see clear pricing upfront with Amazon Autos, and I wasn’t disenchanted. 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, all the way 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 Amazon Autos.
I used to be additionally in a position to estimate the month-to-month fee based mostly 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 vehicles from different automakers are nowhere to be discovered.
This con might quickly disappear: Amazon says it is going to add vehicles from different producers in 2025.
Nevertheless, the choice can be restricted in worth, with the most cost effective automotive promoting for $22,510 excluding charges, taxes, and seller fees. There are not any used vehicles obtainable on the market on the time of writing.
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Professional: Acquainted Interface
Shopping for a automotive by Amazon Autos felt like procuring on Amazon, so I felt proper at dwelling. There have been classes like worth, mannequin yr, and trim colour on the left-hand facet, and there have been merchandise in a listing sorted by worth within the heart.
Though 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 reveals 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 concerning the worth and attempting to barter it down.
Whereas it may be much less tense to have the entire course of on-line, it is usually much less private. And I can not assist questioning if I am getting the most effective deal on-line or if I might be higher off entering into individual.
This, together with the restricted vary of choice, finally dissuaded me from shopping for a automotive from Amazon — for now.
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