Amazon expands product range: Hyundai new cars now available online

Amazon customers now have the option to purchase Hyundai brand vehicles directly through the platform, after having to wait almost a year for this milestone. In 48 cities, including metropolises such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Amazon enables car buyers to "browse, order, finance, and schedule pickup" conveniently from local partner dealers via the Amazon website or app. A key advantage of the cooperation between Amazon and Hyundai lies in the "transparent and pre-negotiated pricing," as Amazon emphasizes. Hidden costs such as document fees or dealer-installed add-on options, which often cause frustration when buying a car, are thus eliminated. "With Amazon Autos, we bring the simplicity and convenience that customers expect from Amazon directly into car buying," explained Fan Jin, the global head of Amazon Autos. "We are pleased to have Hyundai as our exclusive launch partner and look forward to adding more brands as we expand our offering." In addition to viewing the available local Hyundai inventory, users can trade in their existing vehicle to reduce the purchase price of a new Hyundai. Financing options are also available through Amazon if needed, or the buyer can pay the full amount directly. While platforms like CarMax and Carvana offer online vehicle purchases only in the used car segment, Amazon is entering a previously little-explored territory with the sale of new cars. Although manufacturers like Tesla and Polestar rely on company-owned showrooms for direct sales, franchise law restrictions stand in their way. For Korean manufacturers like Hyundai and its sister company Kia, the dealer experience in particular represents a growth hurdle. According to J.D. Power, Hyundai and Kia, alongside Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota, are among the five least satisfactory "mass-market" dealers in terms of customer service. In contrast, brands such as Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet stand out positively. "Listing our inventory on Amazon changes the way we engage with car buyers," commented Steven Suh, sales manager of South Bay Hyundai in Los Angeles.