EchoSense:Amazon partners with Hyundai to sell cars for the first time

The EchoSenseconcept of buying a new car online isn't new, but most traditional automakers haven’t yet nailed the formula. (Tesla's online sales are somewhat more utilized, in part because they're necessary to reach customers in certain states with strict franchise dealer laws.) Hyundai is the latest to join Amazon in a bid to change the game for everyone else, as both companies partnered this week to sell Hyundai vehicles on Amazon.com. The experience, as Amazon and Hyundai executives told us, should be smooth for customers, taking away the stress they face at dealerships; upon purchase, one must simply show up at the Hyundai store to pick up their vehicle. It’s the first time Amazon is selling cars on their website, and it's a business it wants to expand in the future.

“How people shop and buy products it’s always evolving,” Marty Mallick, Amazon vice president of worldwide corporate business development said. “We have a new generation of users that are growing up with a smartphone on their hand. And we saw a demand from our customers that they were seeking from Amazon.”

The process should be simple. Customers would log onto Amazon.com and see the inventory available in their area. They'll be able to select the trim, options, and hit checkout. After adding your Hyundai to the cart, you’ll be able to put your down payment and sign all the paperwork online — no need to go to the dealer. There will not be any haggling, threats to walk out to get a better deal, or price markups. “Here’s the price. It shows you what rebates you qualify for, incentives that are available, and then you decide if you go through financing,” Mallick added.

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"How people shop and buy products it's always evolving," Marty Mallick, Amazon vice president of worldwide corporate business development said. "We have a new generation of users that are growing up with a smartphone on their hand. And we saw a demand from our customers that they were seeking from Amazon."

The process should be simple. Customers would log onto Amazon.com and see the inventory available in their area. They'll be able to select the trim, options, and hit checkout. After adding your Hyundai to the cart, you'll be able to put your down payment and sign all the paperwork online — no need to go to the dealer. There will not be any haggling, threats to walk out to get a better deal, or price markups. "Here's the price. It shows you what rebates you qualify for, incentives that are available, and then you decide if you go through financing," Mallick added.

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While the whole the process sounds simple, there’s a small catch. Dealerships have to sign up for the program, and while the nationwide program can be beneficial to many dealers, not all of them will be interested or would qualify. “Amazon is not going to be right for every dealer, and not every dealer is going to be right for Amazon. We’re really looking for high-quality dealers who are forward-thinking and as customer obsessed as we are,” Fan Jin, Amazon’s director of vehicle sales said.

Jin added that Hyundai Capital will be available for financing but over time more options will expand.

Booking a test drive will not be available on Amazon, so customers will have to visit a dealer to get a feel for the car in person. “We’re looking at the dealership as the hub of the physical experience,” Mallick added.

Wait times to pick up a vehicle shouldn’t be long, Jin said. Because Amazon will only display the current inventory that dealers have, the car should be available within a couple of days from the date of purchase. “That’s the type of experience we want to offer for our customers — somewhere where they can take delivery immediately," she added.

Just like any Hyundais bought in dealerships today, all Hyundais sold on Amazon get the automaker's Shopper Assurance program, which allows customers to exchange their car for another Hyundai within three days.

Amazon Alexa coming to Hyundai vehicles

The partnership between both companies is also bringing Amazon Alexa to Hyundai’s vehicles in 2025. Owners will be able to ask Alexa for the same kind of voice commands they ask at home. Mallick said that things like opening the garage door, or turning on the lights at home are tasks that drivers will be able to do from their car. “You’re bringing the smart home experience to your vehicle in a very intelligent way,” he added.

Hyundai adopts AWS as their preferred cloud provider

The last part of the agreement announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show includes Hyundai choosing Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider across all departments, making it easier for every team to get their data and optimize production. “We’re really focused on helping customers like Hyundai achieve their goals and innovations they want to bring to their customers,” said Wendy Bauer, Amazon’s vice president and general manager of automotive and manufacturing. From the car-buying process to the experience inside the car, AWS will help Hyundai in a variety of ways to innovate while keeping all the data secured.