Amazon is placing its personal spin on automobile gross sales — with no journey to the seller or perhaps a check drive.
The retail large introduced on Tuesday that consumers might purchase their subsequent automobile by Amazon in the event that they lived in certainly one 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 12 months, the corporate stated. 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 automobile gross sales, Amazon joins a market already occupied by different on-line automobile retailers like Edmunds, Carvana, Shift, and Vroom, however these websites additionally function used vehicles on the market; in the intervening time Amazon solely affords new vehicles.
What would occur if I attempted to purchase a automobile from Amazon? Listed here are the professionals and cons that emerged after I tried out the brand new function.
Professional: Transparency
Amazon says that consumers can see clear pricing upfront with Amazon Autos, and I wasn’t disenchanted. Clicking right into a automobile, 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 Counsel Retail Value (MSRP).
Pricing by Amazon Autos.
I used to be additionally in a position to estimate the month-to-month cost based mostly on the down cost and mortgage time period.
The product web page additionally transparently outlined the situation of the automobile, 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 simply 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.
Nonetheless, the choice can be restricted in worth, with the most cost effective automobile promoting for $22,510 excluding charges, taxes, and seller expenses. There aren’t any used vehicles out there on the market on the time of writing.
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Professional: Acquainted Interface
Shopping for a automobile by Amazon Autos felt like purchasing on Amazon, so I felt proper at residence. There have been classes like worth, mannequin 12 months, and trim shade on the left-hand aspect, and there have been merchandise in an inventory sorted by worth within the middle.
Regardless that the automobile product class is new to Amazon, the acquainted interface made the method straightforward to navigate.
How Amazon Autos seems.
Con: No Negotiating Energy
Amazon says that it reveals clear pricing, “eliminating the necessity for negotiation.” I should buy a automobile 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 annoying to have the entire course of on-line, it’s also much less private. And I am unable to assist questioning if I am getting the most effective deal on-line or if I might be higher off moving into particular person.
This, together with the restricted vary of choice, in the end dissuaded me from shopping for a automobile from Amazon — for now.
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