Soon you’ll be able to buy a car on Amazon
Listen to the story (American accent)
Amazon will start selling cars and SUVs on its website.
South Korean car maker Hyundai made an agreement with Amazon to sell its cars on the website.
The car you buy on Amazon won’t be delivered to your house though. Customers will still have to pick up the car at a dealership.
Jessica Caldwell, an automobile industry analyst, says that Amazon and Hyundai will have to manage expectations of customers. Many people might think a new car will be delivered to their house the next day like many products on Amazon.
Buying a car online is very different from buying a book or watch. For example, the Amazon website will provide information about loans and monthly payments. Amazon will also connect car shoppers with a dealership where they can pick up the car, learn how to use its features and get servicing.
However, Amazon is not the first company to sell cars online. Edmunds.com has been offering cars online and connecting customers with car dealerships. Some car makers also provide similar services.
Shopping online for cars started to become more popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even though buying a car online is not new, the size and popularity of Amazon makes this new agreement special.
As part of the agreement between Amazon and Hyundai, Amazon will provide the car company with data storage space. Also, Hyundai cars will include Amazon's Alexa voice assistant.
Vocabulary26 words
- SUV
- “sport utility vehicle”; a type of car that is big and has a lot of space
- Car maker
- A company that builds or makes cars
- Agreement
- an understanding, plan or contract made between two or more people/groups
- Deliver
- to bring something to a person or to a place
- Customer
- A person who buys things from a store
- Pick up
- To go and get something; to get something from a place
- Dealership
- A store that sells cars
- Automobile
- Another word for a car.
- Industry
- business field; area of work or business; type of business
- Analyst
- a person who studies and evaluates information or data to understand a situation or problem
- Manage expectations
- To make sure that people understand fully; to explain something so people know what to expect
- Product
- something that is made to be sold or used by people; things you buy in a shop
- Provide
- to give or supply something that is needed or requested
- Loan
- Money that is borrowed from someone or a bank and needs to be paid back with interest
- Monthly payment
- A payment that is made every month; Money you pay every month
- Connect
- To join or link things together
- Shopper
- A person who buys things from stores
- Feature
- a special or important point; attribute; quality; component; part;
- Service (a car)
- To take care of a car and keep it running well (e.g., change the oil, fix things)
- Offer
- provide; supply; propose; to make something available for sale or use
- Provide
- Give or supply something;
- Pandemic
- when a disease or sickness goes all over the country or world
- Even though
- A phrase used to show a contrast or contradiction between two things; despite the fact that; although
- Popularity
- how much something is liked or not liked; the level or amount something is admired, enjoyed or liked
- Data storage space
- a hard drive or cloud service for storing/keeping digital information
- Include
- to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Amazon will start _____ cars and SUVs on its website.
South Korean car _____ Hyundai made an agreement with Amazon to sell its cars on the _____.
The car you _____ on Amazon won’t be delivered to your house _____. Customers will still have to pick up the car at a _____.
Jessica Caldwell, an _____ industry analyst, says that Amazon and Hyundai will have to manage expectations of _____. Many people might think a _____ car will be delivered to their house the next day like many _____ on Amazon.
Buying a car _____ is very different from buying a book or _____. For example, the Amazon website will _____ information about loans and monthly _____. Amazon will also connect car _____ with a dealership where they can pick up the _____, learn how to use its features and _____ servicing.
However, Amazon is not the _____ company to sell cars online. Edmunds.com has been offering _____ online and connecting _____ with car dealerships. Some car makers also provide _____ services.
Shopping online _____ cars started to become more popular _____ the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even though _____ a car online is not new, the size and popularity of Amazon makes _____ new agreement special.
As _____ of the agreement between Amazon and Hyundai, _____ will provide the car company with data storage _____. Also, Hyundai cars will include Alexa voice _____.
Discussion questions
- How do you feel about the idea of Amazon selling cars?
- Do you think buying a car online is a good idea? Why or why not?
- What do you think are the advantages of picking up a car at a dealership instead of having it delivered to your house?
- How do you think this agreement will affect the car industry?
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