Drivers in 48 U.S. cities can now browse, order, and pay for a new Hyundai, with additional brands anticipated to join next year
You can buy almost anything on Amazon, and starting this week, that includes brand-new cars—as long as the car you want is a Hyundai.
The Korean automaker and the retail giant announced their partnership to sell cars in 2023. After a gradual rollout of a pilot program, the initiative is now fully operational. Drivers in 48 U.S. cities can purchase a new Hyundai alongside their smartphone charging cables and biodegradable dog poop bags.
Visitors to amazon.com/autos can browse, customize, order, finance, and schedule the pickup of their car directly from their smartphone, all without stepping into a dealership. This streamlined process is a significant draw for buyers who find the traditional car sales experience stressful. Amazon’s transparent, no-haggle pricing model is also a key selling point, similar to the approach used by Tesla for its vehicles.
However, Amazon isn’t bypassing dealers entirely. Instead, it serves as a middleman, connecting customers with traditional dealerships. This setup ensures compliance with state laws prohibiting direct-to-consumer car sales in certain areas.
Customers still need to visit a Hyundai dealership to pick up their vehicle. They can choose between two types of appointments: a standard 75-minute session, where an Amazon Advisor explains the car’s features and joins you for a short test drive, or a shorter 45-minute session that skips the drive.
Currently, Amazon handles trade-ins but doesn’t yet offer leasing options, though this feature is expected to be added later. The program is set to expand to more areas, with additional car brands joining next year, although Amazon hasn’t revealed which ones.
Would you consider buying a new car through Amazon, or do you prefer the traditional dealership experience?
