Hyundai cars now available on Amazon

Hyundai Motor Group officially began selling its cars to consumers across the US via e-commerce platform Amazon, making it convenient for customers to find and buy their vehicle of choice online.

Hyundai Motors said Tuesday that all of Hyundai’s car models — internal combustion models, hybrid electric cars and fully electric vehicles — available in the US are now listed for sale on Amazon’s car-related platform, Amazon Autos. More than 200 local dealers from 54 US metropolitan areas listed their Hyundai vehicles there.

This marks the first instance of cars being sold directly on the platform that dominates the US retail market.

“We’re thrilled to be the first brand enabling our dealers to sell vehicles through Amazon Autos. This collaboration allows customers to conveniently discover, learn about and purchase their preferred Hyundai model from their local dealer through one of the world’s most trusted shopping experiences,” said Hyundai Motor Company’s President and CEO Jose Munoz.

The official launch came 14 months after the two companies announced their collaboration to sell cars from the world’s third-largest automaker in November 2023. Before the full launch, Amazon ran a beta service, selling Hyundai cars in 48 major US cities starting in December.

Consumers can find cars sold by nearby dealers on the website, as the company is required by US regulations to partner with local dealerships. The platform offers a range of search options, such as exterior colors and even specific details like the number of speakers, similar to how it handles searches for other products.

Price transparency is one of the most significant benefits for car buyers. Amazon Autos displays fixed prices for cars, along with a detailed breakdown of costs, including estimated taxes and dealer fees.

Amazon said that this eliminates the nuisance of haggling with dealers, particularly when negotiating dealer markups — the additional price added to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which is a common practice in the US when buying a new car.

Experts say the launch will serve as an opportunity for Hyundai in a market where the company has made significant efforts to expand its presence.

“(With the official launch,) Hyundai can promote its image as a company committed to reducing the consumer burden of buying cars from offline dealers. It also helps the company cultivate an innovative image by selling cars online, similar to Tesla’s approach,” said Kim Pil-su, a car engineering professor at Daelim University.

While only Hyundai among Hyundai Motor Group’s three brands — Hyundai, Kia and Genesis — is currently available on the platform, Amazon committed to increasing the number of brands offered throughout the year.