Worried about your Amazon package getting swiped from your front porch? Or maybe you can’t have personal packages delivered at work. Well, starting Tuesday, Amazon customers in dozens of cities across the United States can start getting their Amazon orders delivered to a parked car, as long as the vehicle has the proper technology. The courier uses a smartphone to unlock the car and drop the box inside the trunk or on the back seat.
Amazon has been working for years to maximize convenience and security. They introduced lockers outside physical stores where customers can pick up orders, and last year, they released Amazon Key, which lets it couriers unlock customers’ front doors and drop packages inside. The new in-car delivery service will be available in 37 cities and surrounding areas, and is a variation of Amazon Key. Customers must have a 2015 or later Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle with an active account with OnStar, the roadside assistance and navigation service from General Motors. Car owners with a 2015 or newer Volvo with a similar service, On Call, can also get in-car deliveries.
According to Amazon, couriers can only unlock vehicles once for each scheduled delivery. This new service does offer fewer protections than Amazon’s in-home delivery service, which requires customers to have an internet-connected front door lock and security camera to make sure the courier doesn’t pull anything once inside.
“We believe in offering customers choices,” said Rohit Shrivastava, general manager of Amazon Key. “This product may not be for everyone.”
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