Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has joined forces with Amazon to give Italians another option to buy vehicles: online, on Amazon's website, with extra discounts to sweeten the deal.
There aren't many things for sale that Amazon doesn't already sell, but so far vehicles have not been part of the retailer's inventory.
An Amazon Vehicles Hub may have launched back in August, but it didn't actually sell cars. It offered comprehensive information so that those shopping for a car could learn more, but vehicles were not up for sale then.
With the new FCA partnership, Amazon is now actually selling vehicles online, offering shoppers an additional discount.
Only 3 Fiat Car Models Available - And Only In Italy
Fiat cars are only available on Amazon Italy for now, and only three models are in store: the Fiat 500, 500L and Panda. On the bright side, Italian car shoppers can purchase their desired Fiat vehicle with just one click on Amazon.
In terms of the vehicle selection, Fiat has good reasons to offer these three models in the country. The Fiat Panda is its best-selling car on the Italian market, while the 500 and 500L represent the hip, modern nature of this unconventional initiative to sell cars on Amazon.
"The time has arrived to give consumers a new, more efficient and transparent way to choose a new vehicle," said Gianluca Italia, responsible for Fiat Chrysler in Italy, as cited by Reuters.
Buy Online, Pick Up At Dealership
Gianluca Italia further added that this collaboration between Fiat and Amazon will mostly appeal to prospective shoppers looking to take advantage of attractive deals from the comfort of their home. With this new initiative, currently existing promotions will get a 33 percent bump for online customers.
According to the manager, 50 percent of Italians would be willing to purchase a car online, but the vast majority — 97 percent — would still prefer to pick the vehicle up at a traditional dealership.
With this in mind, Italian customers will be able to make their purchase on Amazon, and the retailer will contact them so buyers can choose their preferred dealer to finalize the purchase then pick up the vehicle. The car should be ready for pickup within two weeks of the online purchase on Amazon.
Why Not Buy A Car Online?
As unconventional as it may sound, buying a car online is not that crazy. You can gather all the information you need and test drive the vehicle in real life at a dealership, then head home, get on Amazon, and buy it online to take advantage of the extra discount. You'd still pick it up at the dealership but with extra perks.
