Amazon launches in-car deliveries
Amazon has unveiled a new service in the US where customers can have the option of receiving deliveries inside their vehicle.
The service is an extension of Amazon Key where customers are able to have their shopping delivered inside their homes via keyless guest access.
With Amazon Key In-Car, Amazon Prime members with compatible vehicles can now choose to have packages delivered inside their cars when parked in a publicly accessible area.
In-car delivery has been launched in 37 US cities.
To use the service, customers download the Amazon Key App and then link their Amazon account with their connected car service account. Once setup is complete and the delivery location has been registered, customers can shop on Amazon.com and select the “In-Car” delivery option at checkout.
On the delivery day, the Amazon Key App then allows customers to check if they have parked within range of the delivery location and provides notifications with the expected four-hour delivery time window. The app also notifies customers when the delivery is on its way and when the package has been delivered. Customers can also track when their car was unlocked and relocked.
Peter Larsen, vice president of delivery technology at Amazon, said: “Since launching Amazon Key last November, we’ve safely delivered everything from cameras to collectable coins inside the home. Customers have also told us they love features like keyless guest access and being able to monitor their front door from anywhere with the Amazon Key App.
“In-car delivery gives customers that same peace of mind and allows them to take the Amazon experience with them. And, with no additional hardware or devices required, customers can start ordering in-car delivery today.”
Amazon uses multiple layers of verification to ensure the security of in-car deliveries. Each time a delivery driver requests access to a customer’s vehicle, Amazon verifies that an authorised driver is at the right location with the right package, through an encrypted authentication process. Once this process is successfully completed, the car is then unlocked.
Cars compatible with the service include 2015 or newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles with an active OnStar account, and a 2015 or newer Volvo vehicle with an active Volvo On Call account.
