Matador AI was appointed an Official Preferred Partner for Nissan USA in the automaker’s first AI Lead Nurturing category. It’s a move that underscores how quickly artificial intelligence is reshaping the retail side of the industry.
The Montreal-based company has worked with Nissan retailers since 2020, helping stores update follow-up processes and improve appointment conversion amid shifting consumer expectations. In a statement, Nick Cossette, co-founder and CEO of Matador AI, said AI is no longer a “nice to have.”
“It’s becoming the engine of modern retailing. When every customer gets an instant, intelligent response, dealers unlock higher engagement, more appointments, and a smoother buying journey for both customers and staff,” said Cossette.
Nissan’s review process included multiple rounds of product evaluations, capability assessments and compliance checks, with attention on how each platform manages lead nurturing, AI-driven messaging and system integrations. Matador received its approval four months after submitting its application.
The platform is built to automate sales and service conversations across dealership departments. It uses AI agents to follow up with customers, schedule and confirm appointments, and maintain engagement across text, voice, chat and phone. Dealers can also deploy branded chat and voice tools designed to qualify shoppers and capture more inquiries.
“It helps dealers capture more of the opportunities they already pay for and move shoppers from first contact to appointment and sale,” said Kevin Esmezyan, Chief Product Officer at Matador AI, in a statement. “On average, our clients see a 25 per cent lift in overall pipeline conversion after rolling out Matador.”
Matador builds custom, rooftop-specific models rather than relying on generic workflows. It’s a distinction the company says allows for cleaner process alignment. Its expanding suite of automations supports sales follow-up, vehicle exchange efforts and service retention through a streamlined dashboard that integrates with leading automotive CRM and DMS platforms.
