Amazon Autos is expanding its presence in the Chicago area, aiming to simplify the car-buying process by offering discounted vehicles during the company’s annual Prime Day sale. Launched in December 2024 in 48 markets including Chicago, the platform has since grown to cover 130 markets nationwide. It initially partnered with Hyundai and has since added brands such as Kia, Subaru, Stellantis, and General Motors, allowing participating dealers to list both new and used cars online.
As part of its Prime Day promotion running through Friday, Amazon is providing a $1,500 gift card with every car purchased through the platform. While still relatively low-profile and accessible via a less prominent tab on Amazon’s website, the service is gradually gaining traction among Chicago-area dealers and consumers.
Fan Jin, director and general manager of Amazon Autos, explained that the initiative stems from customer demand for a more transparent, no-haggle, and convenient car-buying experience. The service emphasizes fixed pricing that includes taxes and fees upfront and offers multiple financing options, allowing much of the purchasing process to be completed online. Customers can search local dealer inventories in real time, compare vehicles, finance their choices, and initiate purchases from home. However, finalizing purchases and test-driving vehicles still typically occur at dealerships.
Among local participants is Rohrman Auto Group, a family-owned dealership with 20 locations across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. CEO Ryan Rohrman noted the platform provides an alternative for customers seeking a frictionless, largely human-free transaction, likening it to buying everyday items like toothbrushes on Amazon. Rohrman’s dealerships have been active on the platform since February, listing their inventories and supporting online sales.
Despite these developments, some dealers report slow sales through Amazon Autos. Greg Mauro, owner of Gregory Hyundai and other dealerships north of Chicago, described the program’s sales volume as minimal, accounting for less than 1% of his overall vehicle sales. He cited sporadic demand since joining at the platform’s inception. Meanwhile, Rohrman’s group has sold 16 vehicles via Amazon Autos since going live, with over half of those sales occurring in the recent month, suggesting growing momentum.
Jin acknowledged that expanding local inventory and dealer participation is a gradual process complicated by the technical challenges of integrating dealership sales systems with Amazon’s ecommerce platform. This includes syncing real-time inventory updates and financing details, particularly for manufacturer-backed programs. Amazon currently does not take a commission on sales and has waived subscription fees for dealers during the initial scaling period. Future revenue is expected to come from dealer advertising competition.
Chicago-area dealerships affiliated with the service include Schaumburg Kia, Gurnee Hyundai, Gregory Hyundai in Highland Park, Patrick Hyundai in Schaumburg, and Castle Hyundai in Downers Grove. Amazon plans a larger promotional push in Chicago later this year following a city-by-city rollout that prioritizes building up inventory and dealer onboarding.
While Amazon Autos has yet to fully disrupt traditional car-buying habits, its growth reflects a broader push to make vehicle purchases as accessible and straightforward as everyday online shopping.