For the first time, Amazon is expanding its e-commerce empire to include car shopping, and it’s starting with a bang: you can now purchase Hyundai vehicles directly from the platform. The initiative, dubbed Amazon Autos, brings the simplicity of Amazon’s shopping experience to one of the biggest purchases most people will ever make.
Partnering with Hyundai, Amazon has launched the service in 48 cities across the United States. Customers can now browse Hyundai’s lineup, arrange financing, and schedule delivery—all through Amazon’s familiar interface. The company is marketing this as a way to make the often stressful car-buying process more convenient, offering a smooth, digital experience without the haggling that tends to dominate traditional dealership interactions.

Despite the appeal of an easy, online car purchase, there’s one major catch: for now, only Hyundai vehicles are available. Amazon has partnered exclusively with the brand for the program’s launch, and while the company hints at expanding its inventory in the future, other carmakers aren’t yet part of the mix.
But what does Amazon get out of this? For the most part, it’s about broadening its reach in the auto sector. Amazon is acting as a facilitator, not the seller, meaning that while you make the purchase on Amazon, the transaction is still processed through a local Hyundai dealer. This setup allows Amazon to tap into its massive user base of over 310 million active users, offering dealers a new, digital channel to reach potential buyers.
One of the standout features is that trade-ins are also handled through Amazon. After providing some details about your old vehicle, an independent service evaluates its value and offers a trade-in price, which is factored into the deal. To sweeten the deal, Amazon is offering a $2,300 gift card for any vehicle purchased through the platform, valid through January 10, 2025.
This move is also a clever workaround for the various state laws that typically limit direct-to-consumer car sales, a strategy pioneered by Tesla. Amazon’s platform still relies on local dealerships, which means it sidesteps the legal restrictions while offering a more streamlined shopping experience.
So, if you’ve been dreading the hassle of a traditional car dealership, buying a Hyundai from Amazon could be your ticket to a smoother, less stressful experience—though you’ll have to wait for the platform to expand its offerings if you’re hoping to shop for anything other than a Hyundai.
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