Amazon Autos to Offer Used Car Sales Opportunity to Dealers
Amazon Autos plans to help dealers sell not only new vehicles but also used cars. The company aims to enable dealers to sell as much inventory as they want.
Fan Jin, Director and General Manager of Amazon Autos, stated in an interview with the Automotive News Daily Drive podcast that adding used car inventory for dealers is their next major goal.
“Auto dealers will have an online e-commerce channel”
When asked how Amazon Autos plans to compete with existing platforms where dealers can list their used cars, Jin responded: “We see the Amazon Autos service as a way for dealers to have a fully online e-commerce channel. This goes beyond just being a lead generation site.”
Jin continued: “We find this valuable because demographic customer data shows that more consumers are quite comfortable with a fully online vehicle transaction. Customers want a multi-channel experience. It can take some time for people to make a decision. So, they may start online, then choose to visit a dealership to see and test-drive the vehicle. Later, they might return home, think about it, and then complete the purchase online. We see this happening very often.”
Jin also emphasized that Amazon Autos aims to make the online used car sales process as seamless as possible.
Car Sales on Amazon Autos Began with Hyundai!
The company started introducing the Amazon Autos service in December. It announced its goal of integrating the Amazon experience into the vehicle purchasing process by collaborating with automotive dealers and brands.
Amazon launched this digital shopping experience in partnership with Hyundai. It enabled shoppers in 48 U.S. cities to purchase new Hyundai vehicles from participating local dealers through Amazon. At the time, the company stated that Amazon Autos planned to add more Hyundai dealerships as well as other manufacturers, brands, and cities.
Amazon Autos allows car buyers to browse vehicles, place orders, arrange financing, and schedule a pickup date from participating local dealerships. Additionally, they can receive instant valuation for their existing vehicles and trade them in. For dealers, this service provides a new sales channel while also streamlining the steps of the process.
“We are working day and night to improve the car buying experience”
A statement on the AmazonAutos website read: “We are working day and night to create a better car buying experience for customers. Amazon Autos is currently available in select metro areas, but we are continuously adding new locations, new dealers, new brands, and new features. In the meantime, visit the Hyundai Showroom on Amazon to explore Hyundai models and features.”