Artificial intelligence is moving further into automotive retail, but the systems supporting it do not necessarily speak the same language. A new industry initiative wants to change that.
U.S.-based Open Auto announced its launch on Oct. 21, with plans to develop shared standards that would allow AI platforms and automotive systems to exchange information and carry out authorized tasks across vehicle shopping, service and ownership.
The initiative brings together automotive and technology stakeholders, including automakers, dealers, AI platforms and service providers. Its goal is to address the growing risk of incompatible systems as companies develop AI capabilities independently.
“AI is quickly changing how consumers shop for, service and interact with their vehicles, but without a common foundation, we risk creating even more fragmentation across an already complex industry,” said Nick Haywood, CEO at Open Auto.
“Open Auto is about bringing the automotive and technology communities together now to establish shared standards that allow innovation to move faster while keeping businesses in control of their products, data and customer relationships.”
Initial priorities include interoperability standards, identity verification, consent and permissions, along with reference implementations demonstrating how the technology could function in automotive environments.
Open Auto is building on existing standards developed through the Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) organization.
Current reference implementations include Service Scheduler, Stock Search and Car Comparison, demonstrating how AI assistants could interact with automotive systems to support customer needs.
The organization is also inviting founding participants to help establish governance, technical requirements and industry pilots.
For dealerships, the initiative could eventually influence how AI tools connect with inventory, scheduling, financing and other retail systems, although the standards remain under development.
