Autotrader’s AI search is designed to complement traditional searching, guiding buyers toward the marketplace rather than replacing browsing or the core platform.

The AI search strategy aims to keep Autotrader and its dealer partners as the primary destination for car-buying queries and to reach customers earlier in the purchase journey through AI integrations.

Autotrader has built foundational AI infrastructure that supports multiple large language models beyond ChatGPT and uses the Model Context Protocol to futureproof the car-buying journey.

Chief Technology Officer Chris Kelly describes the infrastructure-focused approach as enabling future AI-provider integrations and treating AI as a long-term digital commerce strategy.

Kelly notes the connectivity for AI agents is robust and scalable, with plans to integrate providers beyond ChatGPT in the future.

Autotrader has more than 400 product and technology specialists and has introduced AI-powered ‘I’m looking for’ search categories, while testing prompt-based AI search within the marketplace.

The long-term AI investment is about building the commercial infrastructure of tomorrow and keeping retailer stock visible across AI assistants for seamless consumer search across platforms.

This AI effort is part of a broader strategy supported by an in-house team of roughly 400 personnel.

The integration uses Model Context Protocol to connect Autotrader with AI systems at scale as part of a broader AI strategy.

Autotrader emphasizes plug-and-play infrastructure to connect with multiple large language model providers in the future, rather than creating a standalone AI app.

The current initiative builds on earlier AI-powered ‘I’m looking for’ category search features introduced earlier in the year.

Autotrader has launched a ChatGPT app for UK users to search used car listings through conversational prompts, guiding buyers to retailer listings on the marketplace.