Hertz has announced its new initiative to sell used cars from its rental fleet through Amazon Autos. As of now, pre-owned vehicles can be browsed in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans for an expansion to additional locations in the future.
At the time of reporting, listings for Hertz vehicles were not accessible on the platform, according to The Verge. However, CNBC notes that customers residing within 75 miles of the initial launch cities will be able to start their car search on Amazon Autos very soon, with further expansion aimed at up to 45 locations across the United States. This expansion is expected to align with the existing array of Amazon Autos locations.
Hertz’s website indicates that customers can shop for well-maintained vehicles directly on Amazon Autos and arrange to collect them at local Hertz Car Sales locations within a specified timeframe.
Amazon launched its Autos venture in December of the previous year, initially focusing on new and certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles through partnerships with dealers in certain states. This platform allowed customers to browse and compare car prices, but direct purchases only became possible when Hyundai dealers began listing models on the site.
Hertz stands out as the first rental company to collaborate with Amazon Autos and is set to offer a diverse selection of used vehicles from various brands, including Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Nissan. This partnership raises questions about the future of car sales through online marketplaces and the competitive dynamics within the automotive retail sector.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/762183/hertz-amazon-autos-used-rental-vehicles