You can now find your new car on Amazon while sitting on your sofa
A European car manufacturer has launched a virtual showroom on the site
Searching for a new car usually involves a trip to the showroom to look at what's available and booking a test drive while you're there. But shopping for a new vehicle has just gotten that much simpler.
Skoda has added a virtual car showroom to Amazon, meaning those in the market for a vehicle can now browse and even compare the models in the range while sitting on the sofa. You can even book a test drive at a local showroom, find out what stock is available and look at finance options.
However, you can't add it to your basket and it's not available on Prime delivery either. Well, not yet anyway.
Car journalist Abigayle Andre, who shares motoring tips on her TikTok page told her viewers: "You can look for your next car on Amazon!
" Skoda are the first European car manufacturer to have their own virtual showroom on Amazon. It seamlessly integrates real-time new car stock availability where customers are.
"It's got used cars too. You can check out the spec, the price, you can even compare cars and book a test drive at your local Skoda retailer. How cool is that?
"Now you can't buy your Skoda from Amazon, you've still have to go to your Skoda retailer for that. But how much easier is this going to make things?
"The same place that we buy our body creams and our hair stuff, we can now find our new car. The Skoda showroom on Amazon is now live so go and check it out!"
Topgear.com said that German automotive brand, Skoda, surveyed 2,000 UK adults on their car-buying values. It found that 47 per cent said being able to research at home was important, and 77 per cent spent as much as two hours browsing online.
So their digital showroom on Amazon is a response to that. In the US, Amazon are one step ahead. In 2024 it announced it would start selling cars online for American customers.
They have started selling a limited number of Hyundai vehicles which are available from local suppliers. And the car manufacturer and Amazon are also creating a new generation of in-car infotainment services.
Hyundai's next-generation vehicles will feature Alexa Assistant, allowing the driver to use voice commands to play music, programme sat nav directions, set reminders, update to-do lists, and check calendars.
Speaking about the partnership between the online retail giants and the Korean car manufacturer, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said: "Hyundai is a very innovative company that shares Amazon's passion for trying to make customers' lives better and easier every day."
Matthew Bowden, Director of Škoda UK, told motortrader.com: 'Online browsing and research are part of everyday life, which is why we're so excited to launch the Škoda showroom at Amazon.
'It gives prospective customers more opportunities to find their next car and see where it's available, all from the comfort of their home.'
It's not known if or when UK Amazon customers might be able to purchase their car from the retail giant. But it's surely less pie in the sky now?
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