Amazon Autos is making a significant push into the used car market, most recently partnering with Hertz Car Sales to broaden its selection beyond its initial collaboration with Hyundai dealerships. This move signals a major expansion for Amazon's automotive business, which launched in December of last year.
Hertz Car Sales is now offering its pre-owned vehicles on Amazon Autos, allowing customers to browse the inventory and purchase a car online before picking it up at a Hertz location. Initially, this partnership is available to customers within 75 miles of Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle. However, Hertz plans to expand the offering to 45 locations nationwide. As Amazon's first fleet dealer on the platform, Hertz provides a wide variety of pre-owned models from manufacturers like Nissan, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Volvo. A search in Seattle showed approximately 100 vehicles available within a 75-mile radius, including a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta priced at $18,000. Hertz states that its vehicles are offered at competitive prices, often below Kelley Blue Book suggested retail value.
This partnership with Hertz marks a significant step in Hertz's broader transformation strategy, which includes innovative technology partnerships to provide a more seamless customer experience. Vehicle shopping and purchases within the Amazon store include familiar features like customer reviews, seller (dealership) reviews, the ability to add to cart, and Amazon's checkout process.
Amazon first announced its venture into car sales in 2023 and officially kicked off sales with Hyundai in December 2024. Prior to the Hertz partnership, Amazon Autos expanded its offerings to include used and certified pre-owned vehicles from Hyundai dealers. With the addition of Hertz, Amazon users can now shop for a wider range of auto brands.
The expansion into used car sales aligns with a broader industry trend toward online car buying. Automakers have increasingly offered pre-ordering options, allowing customers to search and customize vehicles online. Amazon has marketed its platform as an "end-to-end" purchase experience, allowing shoppers to browse available cars, value their trade-in, arrange financing, and schedule pickup without leaving the Amazon site.
Fan Jin, global leader of Amazon Autos, stated that the expansion is driven by strong interest from dealer partners. By including certified pre-owned and used vehicles, Amazon is meeting dealer demand for broader online reach while offering customers a wider selection of high-quality vehicles to fit their budget and lifestyle needs.
Hertz's participation on Amazon Autos could significantly boost its visibility and sales. Jeff Adams, executive vice president of Hertz Car Sales, said that Amazon Autos is the ideal partner to help them deliver on making car shopping easy. He added that customers can shop their expansive inventory of high-quality used cars on the same trusted marketplace where millions shop every day.
For greater transparency, all Hertz used vehicles undergo a 115-point inspection and are backed by a 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. Amazon Autos also offers detailed vehicle history and condition reports for each listing. Customers also receive 24-hour roadside assistance and a 7-day/250-mile buy-back guarantee if they are unhappy with the vehicle.
This move by Amazon comes as the used car market is expected to become an even more lucrative industry. With economic uncertainty prompting consumers to tighten their spending and tariffs potentially raising the cost of new vehicles, pre-owned cars have become an increasingly attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
Amazon's entry into the used car market poses a potential challenge to existing automotive marketplaces. The company's vast reach and established e-commerce platform could disrupt the traditional car buying experience. While competitors like CarMax and Carvana also sell cars online, Amazon's advantage may be its familiarity and the trust it has built with millions of customers.
