Amazon trials car test drive solution

Friday, August 26, 2016 - 14:34 by Mike Price

In the same week that it was announced Amazon is intending to take on Spotify and Apple Music with its own subscription-based music streaming service, it has also been reported that the retail giant is looking to get into the automotive market.

In a deal struck with car maker, Hyundai, Amazon is now offering Prime Now customers the chance to arrange for a test drive of the new Elanta saloon, with same day delivery meaning that people will be able to try out the car without having to visit their nearest dealership.

The idea is that customers can arrange for the car to be driven to their location, whether they are at home or at the office, enabling them to spend up to 60 minutes behind the wheel, to see whether or not it is worth selecting as their next vehicle investment.

While this is not quite the same as Amazon completely embracing the idea of allowing its customers to buy cars via safe shopping online, it is certainly a stepping stone on the path towards this state of affairs.

The trial of this scheme has kicked off in the US this month and it could be expanded to other places where the Prime Now same-day delivery service is already available, according to Tech Radar.

Amazon’s retail empire seems to be in a state of rapid expansion at the moment, with everything from grocery ordering services to drone deliveries being added to its portfolio of services. But it is major cities like London and Birmingham which are set to benefit from new introductions first, with other parts of the UK having to wait a little longer for the benefits to be felt.

There are already plenty of places where people can buy a car via safe shopping online, but the strength of Amazon’s platform could help it make a big impact on this marketplace.