STELLA Automotive

The firm's core offering is an AI-powered digital voice assistant that operates 24/7, handling inbound calls, answering frequently asked questions, scheduling service appointments, and routing complex inquiries to the appropriate dealership staff. The platform integrates with existing dealership software such as Dealer Management Systems (DMS), CRMs, and service schedulers, functioning across voice, text, and chat channels. This system is designed to answer every call on the first ring, eliminate hold times, and provide a consistent, human-like interaction in both English and Spanish. The business model is a B2B Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), generating revenue by providing its AI platform to individual dealerships and large automotive groups across North America.

Since its launch, the company has achieved significant milestones, including securing $19.7 million in a Series A financing round and being named Microsoft's Copilot for Automotive in 2024. Rich Sands, an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience at companies like Ford and Microsoft, was appointed CEO in 2023 to lead the company through its rapid growth phase. The platform's product suite includes STELLA Reception for call routing, STELLA Service for automating service booking, STELLA Sales for lead qualification, and STELLA Insights for providing analytics on customer interactions and operational performance. By automating repetitive communication tasks, the platform allows dealership personnel to focus on more complex, customer-facing activities, thereby aiming to improve operational efficiency and customer retention.