cars news 10: Hyundai Offers On-Demand Test Drives of 2017 Elantra

Hyundai has partnered with Amazon to offer on-demand test drives of the 2017 Elantra over the next few weekends. Customers can book a test drive online and have an Elantra sent to their home, office, or any other location they choose.

The program builds on Amazon’s Prime Now service, which offers quick delivery of food and other household items. In the Elantra program, a trained expert accompanies prospective buyers on the test drives, which last between 45 minutes and hour. After the test drive, customers will end up at a Hyundai dealer to purchase the car if they wish.

Unfortunately, the service is only available in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas during the weekends of August 20-21 and August 27-28. Still, it points to a growing trend signaling consumers want more flexibility in the car shopping experience.

“We know people are looking for a new way to experience our vehicles, and with the convenience of Amazon’s Prime Now service, ‘Prime Now. Drive Now.’ is an innovative solution we are testing to modernize today’s automotive shopping experience,” Dean Evans, chief marketing officer for Hyundai Motor America, said in a press release.

Now that there are solutions allowing customers to complete much of the car buying process online (think GM’s Shop-Click-Drive), it makes sense that test drives can also be arranged in the digital realm. Head to Amazon’s “Prime Now. Drive Now.” website to schedule a test drive with the 2017 Elantra.

The new service complements another collaboration between Amazon and Hyundai. Hyundai’s Genesis brand has paired with Amazon to allow G80 and G90 owners to control their cars via their Amazon Echo, Tap, Echo Dot, or Fire TV devices. Owners can tell Alexa, Amazon’s version of Siri, to lock or unlock the car, adjust climate controls, or sound the horn.

Source: Hyundai