Amazon is planning to sell cars online in Europe, starting with the UK.
The online retail giant is branching out into online automotive retail, after launching its online car information database last year in the US. Auto News Europe reports that "Amazon seeks to fill this gap in its catalogue".
The brand has also been hiring executives from across the industry to get the effort off the ground, with, according to an automotive consultant, healthy paychecks. It’s reported that Christoph Moeller, partner in charge of automotive industry operations at the Oliver Wyman management consultancy, has already been hired.
Amazon will face competition for online car sales from manufacturers such as Hyundai, Peugeot and Smart which are already active in online retailing, and from other multi-brand sellers including Autocar's sister title. It already sells the Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda through its Italian website via a trial that has been extended and broadened to long-term leasing.
An Amazon spokesman said that the company doesn’t comment on rumour or speculation.
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