Add to cart: Amazon to start selling Hyundai cars soon as company pushes online sales

In a move that puts a fresh spin on the term “car shopping,” Amazon has teamed up with Hyundai in the US to add cars and SUVs to its extensive online marketplace. Get ready to browse for your dream Hyundai Santa Fe or Sonata from the comfort of your couch – but don’t expect it to be delivered in the iconic gray Amazon van. In this quirky collaboration, Amazon users can peruse Hyundai vehicles through a virtual showroom, thanks to a partnership with the South Korean automaker. However, unlike the usual Amazon Prime experience, your wheels won’t roll up to your doorstep overnight. Contrary to the one-click delivery expectations, customers will have to move over to their local Hyundai dealership to pick up their chosen ride. This unconventional approach is due to state laws safeguarding auto dealerships from direct manufacturer-to-consumer sales, a hurdle Tesla and other automakers have faced. Industry analyst Jessica Caldwell from Edmunds.com cautioned against expecting an instant doorstep delivery, emphasizing the need for managing customer expectations. Despite this, Amazon aims to make the car-buying experience as seamless as possible, mirroring their successful online retail model. While Edmunds.com competes in a similar space, connecting car shoppers with dealers, Amazon’s venture involves partnering with Hyundai dealerships. The online giant plans to provide a comprehensive interface, offering information on financing and facilitating monthly payment calculations. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai’s COO, Jose Muñoz, and Santa Monica dealership owner, Mike Sullivan, highlighted that dealerships will remain crucial for explaining vehicle technologies and providing post-sale servicing. Amazon customers can sift through dealership inventories on the website, view vehicle pricing, and hit the purchase button. However, the selection is limited to vehicles already in the dealers’ inventory. While online vehicle selection isn’t groundbreaking, Amazon’s sheer size and influence make this collaboration a game-changer. This partnership, part of a larger deal between Hyundai and Amazon, also includes data storage services for Hyundai and integration of the Alexa voice assistant in future Hyundai models. While Hyundai dealerships can opt-in, they aren’t obliged to participate in this unconventional venture.