Volkswagen Group of America has hired Alexa to give guided test drives of its ID4 electric SUV.
Half-hour drives with Amazon's artificial-intelligence persona are being offered starting this fall in certain regions of the country. They'll start with a walkaround by a human product specialist, then prospective customers can go to a participating dealership for more information about how to reserve an ID4, VW says.
Along the way, Alexa will answer questions about the vehicle's features "in a fresh, fun manner," the automaker said in a statement. "From the customer's viewpoint, they now can test drive a Volkswagen with the freedom to explore the car without any added pressure."
VW says Alexa can provide information about the ID4's battery, charging capabilities, blind spot monitoring alerts, infotainment system, cost, maintenance needs and other features.
"In our push to bring EVs and electromobility to all, we need to find new and exciting ways to talk to our customers," said Andrew Savvas, the automaker's chief sales and marketing officer. "This collaboration with Amazon does just that. Future Volkswagen owners can experience all our ID4 has to offer with the aid of a voice service they've already come to know."
