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Amazon is tackling its delivery issues with a new approach — delivering packages inside your car. Packages left on a doorstep may be stolen, blown away, or rain-soaked. So Amazon has been trying different ways to get packages to you.
Now Amazon is introducing a new service: Key In-Car with deliveries inside your car, at your home, office or other location. Packages are left in your car’s trunk (boot), or inside the passenger compartment of your car.
About Amazon Key In-Car
Earlier this week, Amazon announced Amazon Key In-Car that allows its delivery people to open your car trunk or door to place your your packages inside your vehicle. This new service helps Amazon customers have a new option for package delivery that might be more safe and convenient than delivery to their doorsteps.
In 2013, Jeff Bezos announced that drone delivery would be coming soon. But we’re still waiting for that innovation… See => Amazon Prime Air Drone Delivery: Cool, Convenient or Creepy? [Poll]
Last year, Amazon introduced Amazon Key to allow deliveries inside your home. Check out => Amazon Key – Get Packages Delivered Inside Your House
Now with Key In-Car, eligible packages can be delivered inside cars. To get started, customers can download the Amazon Key app, then link their Amazon account with their connected car account.
After 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. The service is free to use.
Delivery people check in with an app to locate your car and to open it. They will try to fit the package in the trunk first. If it doesn’t fit, or there is no trunk, the package will be placed in the passenger area.
The car will be locked again after the package has been placed in the car. Users will get a notification when the delivery is complete.
This video shows how Amazon Key In-Car works:
This video from Amazon shows reactions from customers who were among the first to use Amazon Key In-Car:
Peter Larsen, Vice President of Delivery Technology, Amazon, said in a statement, “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.”
Availability for Amazon Key In-Car
At launch, Amazon Key In-Car is available only for Amazon Prime members in eligible locations who own specific models of vehicles, though Amazon says it plans to expand the types of vehicles in the future.
Key In-Car currently works in 37 cities in the US. According to Amazon, delivery “can only be made to a stationary car parked in an open, street-level, and publicly accessible area.” If your car is parked in a locked garage, for example, Key In-Car won’t be able to deliver your package.
Key In-Car also only works with connected cars, models 2015 and later, made by GM (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick) and Volvo. GM vehicles must have an active OnStar account and Volvo cars must have an active Volvo On Call account.
You can check to see whether your location and model vehicle are eligible for Amazon Key In-Car at the Amazon Key Vehicle page.
Packages That Can Be Delivered in Your Car
Only certain packages can be delivered to your car. In the summer heat, you shouldn’t opt for Key In-Car for items such as chocolate, carbonated beverages and other items that can be affected by temperature.
Other packages that can’t be delivered using Key In-Car include larger packages and valuable items that require a signature.
Poll
Would you use Amazon Key In-Car to have packages delivered inside your car? Vote in The Wonder of Tech poll:
Your Thoughts
Have you ever had an issue with an Amazon package delivery? Do you like the idea of a package being delivered inside your car? Would you rather have a package delivered inside your home or by drone instead of inside your car?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Hello
Carolyn,
Great post as always. You have always come with unique topic and I am always excited to visit your blog to learn something new. I never hear before about Amazon Key In-car service and here great to know about. The key In-car service provided by Amazon is very helpful for its customers.
Yes, this service is more safe and convenient than delivery to doorsteps. I like the way you have explained the whole post. But, when did they provide this service to another country.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a great day,
Praveen verma
Hi Praveen, There is no word yet about when Amazon Key In-Car will be expanding to other areas. It’s pretty limited, even in the US, for now. I imagine Amazon wants to test this service first before bringing it to more areas and more vehicles. But it does seem like a convenient way to get your packages!
I was shopping for a car last weekend and the Amazon In Car Delivery option popped up as a feature for one of the cars we were considering. This is an intriguing concept that could be useful in some situations (package delivery on vacation potentially). Thank you for the in-depth overview and links to the videos.
Hi Jason, That’s so cool that car companies are featuring Amazon Key In-Car as a feature. The question is, did it make you more likely to want to buy the car?
That’s what car companies and Amazon are hoping for!
Amazon is the company that continues to innovate. The problem could be theft. Unfortunately, thieves may get savvy on how to beat the system and rob the cars.
Hi Phil, Excellent point. If the car is parked in a public place (which it must be for Key In-Car to make a delivery), then thieves may be able to spot the delivery and target that car to get the package. Let’s hope that doesn’t become a wide-spread problem because a thief stealing a package from a car could be much more costly than stealing one from a doorstep.