AutoTrader’s AI Could Find the Car You Didn’t Even Know You Wanted

Comparing two used cars can mean working through differences in mileage, equipment and price. Before a buyer contacts a dealer, there is already plenty of information to make sense of. For the dealer, keeping listings current and responding to enquiries takes time that could otherwise be spent with customers.

AutoTrader Intelligence is already assisting with parts of that process in South Africa. Its live tools help buyers identify a vehicle’s selling points and find relevant alternatives, while giving dealers support with the information behind a listing.

These applications align with a broader strategy across OLX Group, which includes AutoTrader. Speaking at OLX’s CLAIM Online virtual summit in late October, Chief Data Officer Andreas Merentitis detailed the group’s vision for AI-native marketplaces that embed artificial intelligence into core operations. He emphasised that AI should be fundamentally integrated into the organisation’s overarching operating model.

For South African car buyers, one example is Vehicle Highlights. It compares a listing with similar vehicles and draws attention to characteristics such as lower mileage or better fuel economy. Bringing those differences onto the listing helps a shopper see what merits a closer look without having to work through every specification.

Consumer Recommendations uses current and past browsing behaviour to suggest other relevant vehicles. A buyer can therefore discover alternatives with similar characteristics, including cars they might not have found through their original search.

On the dealer side, Comments Generator drafts descriptions using the details already supplied in a listing. Dealers can edit the text or generate another version, allowing them to use the draft as the starting point while retaining control over what the listing says.

Image Management helps organise the photographs. AutoTrader describes a system that classifies and orders uploaded images and shows which views of a vehicle have been captured. This gives sellers a clearer view of the pictures available to a prospective buyer.

Dealer Insights adds information about demand, supply, and pricing trends at the listing level. A dealer can use that market context when considering a price or deciding how to manage stock. The commercial judgement remains with the person using the information.

The relevance of that information was a theme at CLAIM Online. Merentitus connected OLX’s established relationships with dealers and its marketplace data to the practical problems its tools are designed to address, including vehicle sourcing and margins.

AutoIQ, OLX’s assistant for automotive dealers, provided a concrete example. During the conference demonstration, it brought together unread enquiries, missed calls, and stock-related tasks. It also compared a vehicle’s price with the market and supported a search for suitable vehicles to add to a dealership’s stock, including the assessment of potential margin.

The demonstration showed how assistance can extend into taking an action: AutoIQ changed a vehicle’s price when instructed to do so. OLX says AutoIQ is currently live on its platforms in Poland and Portugal.

Mohit Kuma, Director of Product at OLX Group, explained the customer-facing purpose behind the tool. Dealerships spend time on repetitive work, and one reason for developing AutoIQ was to give them more time to speak to buyers.

The event also explored the boundaries of delegated responsibility. Joana de Quintanilha, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester, highlighted the distinction between employing AI tools and trusting autonomous systems to act independently. For instance, a user might rely on an assistant for product research or comparisons yet prefer to personally complete a vehicle purchase.

Furthermore, de Quintanilha addressed the issue of decision-making authority when AI agents represent consumers or sellers. She emphasised that granting permission to retrieve information or offer recommendations is distinct from authorising negotiation or transaction acceptance. As AI capabilities expand to handle broader workflows, establishing clear parameters remains essential for users.

This highlights the ongoing importance of direct communication following an automated recommendation within automotive marketplaces. While a generated shortlist assists buyers in narrowing down which vehicles to explore, direct dialogue with a dealer enables them to inquire about specific vehicle details and address remaining questions.

AutoTrader CEO George Mienie reinforced this philosophy during the October 2025 launch of AutoTrader Intelligence, stating, “Technology will never take the human element out of buying a car. It merely makes it easier to build that connection.”