eBay Inc.,'s(NASDAQ:EBAY) drive to get more entrenched into the auto sales market just received a large boost, as the online auctioneer introduced a service yesterday that is apparently intended to drive a tenfold increase in the inventory of cars available at eBay motors -- all this for the purpose of allowing more U.S. auto dealers to sell through eBay.Billions of dollars per year already pass through eBay motors, and that section of eBay is responsible for quite a few car and truck sales every year. Many individuals and many dealers already have auctions (and shops) on eBay for vehicles and it's already become a viable competitor to walking on the lot for a car purchase for many car customers. After all, there are no pushy salespeople with smoker's breath at eBay motors (unless you close your eyes and imagine it).
And --- used car dealers should love this part of the new eBay program ---- the online auction house will allow car dealers to upload listings of all of the used cars on their lots. Again, that's all the used cars on their lots -- for a $1,000 fee per month plus a fee of $50 per sale. So, will eBay become a competitor to the used car lots across the landscape (I mean, err, previously-owned or certified vehicles)? Maybe so -- unless customers just have to have that touchy-feely experience when purchasing a new vehicle for themselves.
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