On Thursday, the fifth best-selling automaker in the United States forged a partnership with the world's fifth-largest company by market cap when Hyundai Motors announced that customers would soon be able to order cars through Amazon. The move could be a boon for car shoppers and a good first step in undermining the power of car dealerships.
The announcement came at the Los Angeles Auto Show, as reported in The Wall Street Journal. Hyundai Chief Operating Officer José Muñoz noted that customers, frustrated with the car-buying process, "see how easy it is to buy all the products on Amazon, and they want that convenience when buying a car." Beginning in 2024, prospective buyers will be able to search Amazon for inventory at local dealerships; they can then purchase or finance the vehicle using their chosen payment options right through Amazon's site.
