Echo Auto Ships to High Demand

Apparently there is considerable interest and even demand to get the Echo Auto into cars.   Even though later model cars today can already be fitted with Alexa, Google or Siri capability at low additional cost.  There seems to be real interest in the magic that Amazon can supply.  How will it differ from streaming music and extending the smart home?   Again it extends the Assistant, skill and channel ecosystem.

After over a million pre-orders, Amazon’s Echo Auto has begun to ship   By Sarah Perez  @sarahintampain TechCrunch

At Amazon’s event in September, the company announced the Echo Auto, an aftermarket product designed to bring Alexa to cars. But the device has remained in pre-order status, even as other products also unveiled at the same event — like the Fire TV Recast, AmazonBasics microwave and various Echo devices for the home — went on sale and shipped to customers. The Echo Auto, meanwhile, is still only available on an invite-only basis. But Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that it has begun to ship the device to pre-order customers.

In fact, some Echo Auto customers received their new device in time for Christmas, according to Steve Rabuchin, VP, Alexa.

Apparently, the Echo Auto was in demand, too.

“We had over a million [pre-order] requests,” Rabuchin told us. “Now, we’re just starting to ship.”

Amazon says the device began to ship to the first set of customers in December, and pre-orders continue to be fulfilled. .... "