Ford (F.US) partners with Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US) to enter the online car sales market: Certified used cars will be available on Amazon.com, Inc. Autos to target more mainstream consumers.

Ford Motor Company (F.US) announced that it has partnered with Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US) to sell its "Blue Advantage" certified used cars on the Amazon.com e-commerce platform, becoming the second large car manufacturer to reach consumers through this retail giant after Hyundai. Ford has joined Amazon.com, Inc.'s Autos car-buying portal, which allows users to complete the process of selecting, financing, and paying for used cars like they would for everyday items by simply adding them to their cart. While Hyundai started selling new cars on the platform last year, Ford will only be offering certified used cars in this round. According to a statement released by Ford on Monday, consumers will complete vehicle delivery through participating Ford dealerships in the program. Some Ford dealerships in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas have already joined, and Ford plans to expand this service nationwide in the coming months. They have stated that about 200 out of their nationwide network of 2,800 dealerships have expressed interest in participating. With increasing demand for used cars, car companies are actively expanding their online channels. Ford's move comes as consumers are increasingly turning to online platforms such as Carvana (CVNA.US) and CarMax, Inc. (KMX.US) for car purchases. Additionally, with the average price of new cars exceeding $50,000, more mainstream consumers are turning to the used car market. Edmunds data shows that the average selling price for a three-year-old used car in the third quarter of this year has risen to $31,067, reaching a new three-year high. While some car companies have attempted to emulate Tesla, Inc.'s direct sales model, Ford has chosen to continue working with independent dealerships and reach a broader customer base through Amazon.com, Inc. Wendy Lane, head of Ford's Blue Advantage business, stated, "Almost everyone has an Amazon.com account, consumers trust this platform. By selling our cars here, we are very excited to see how they perform and how well they are accepted by consumers." Lane mentioned that the company aims to drive traffic to dealers' used car businesses through Amazon.com, Inc., keeping consumers within the "Ford ecosystem" for future maintenance, repairs, and future purchases. The certified used cars sold on the Amazon.com, Inc. platform are sold at a fixed price, undergo rigorous inspections, and come with a warranty of up to one year or 12,000 miles. Amazon.com, Inc.'s search tools also allow car buyers to view maintenance records and condition reports of the vehicles. Fan Jin, global head of Amazon.com, Inc.'s Autos, stated, "By partnering with excellent Ford dealerships that prioritize customer service, we hope to create a car-buying experience that combines reliable vehicle certification with the convenience of Amazon.com." Ford will also evaluate whether to include new cars on Amazon.com, Inc.'s automotive sales platform based on the success of this partnership.