I need something for a family of five, mostly city driving, but I do not want a huge SUV.
AI Agent
Got it. Do you have a budget range, and are you open to pre-owned vehicles?
Shopper
Around $45,000. Pre-owned is fine.
Vehicle discovery
Find the fit before the model.
Guide buyers from broad needs and preferences to relevant vehicle options through a natural conversation.
Needs firstPreferences evolveInventory when ready
DISCOVERY PATHNeeds → priorities → direction
AI Agent
Thanks. Would you prefer something more compact and efficient, or is extra cargo space more important?
Shopper
Extra cargo space, but still easy to park.
AI Agent
Based on that, I would start with a few midsize options. I can also narrow this down using the vehicles currently available at the dealership.
Midsize SUV
- Budget
- Up to $45,000
- Priority
- Cargo space
- Driving
- Mostly city
- Preference
- Easy to park
Next stepShow matching inventory
Start with the shopper, not the model name.
Not every buyer arrives knowing exactly what they want.
01
I need something good for a long commute.
02
We need more space for two kids and luggage.
03
I want an electric vehicle but I am not sure which size makes sense.
04
I want something sporty but still practical for daily driving.
Vehicle discovery helps turn those broad needs into a clearer set of preferences before exact inventory matching begins.
Translate everyday needs into useful vehicle criteria.
The shopper starts with a situation rather than a specification. The conversation translates that situation into useful criteria such as size, seating, cargo needs, driving pattern, budget and fuel preference.
Once those priorities are clear, the flow can connect them to relevant models or current dealership inventory.
SHOPPER SITUATIONFamily of fiveMostly city drivingNot a huge SUV
Conversation
VEHICLE CRITERIAVehicle sizePassenger capacityDaily driving pattern
What can shape a vehicle recommendation?
The dealership decides which factors matter for its discovery flow.
The flow can ask only the questions needed to narrow the search rather than forcing every shopper through the same checklist.
01
Budget range
02
New or pre-owned preference
03
Vehicle size
04
Body type
05
Passenger capacity
06
Cargo needs
07
Daily driving pattern
08
City or highway use
09
Fuel preference
010
Drivetrain
011
Mileage preference
012
Features
013
Brand preference
014
Dealership location
015
Purchase timeline
Discovery is different from inventory search.
I need something comfortable for a long commute and weekend trips.
Vehicle discovery helps define the criteria first.
Show me AWD SUVs under $40,000 with fewer than 30,000 miles.
Inventory search then uses those criteria to retrieve exact available vehicles.
A shopper using inventory search already knows enough to ask for something specific. A shopper using vehicle discovery may still be figuring out what fits.
The two use cases work together, but they solve different parts of the buying journey.
Let the conversation adapt as preferences change.
Vehicle preferences often evolve during the conversation.
01
A shopper may begin by asking for a compact SUV and then realize that third-row seating matters more than size.
02
They may start with a specific brand and later decide that price or fuel efficiency is more important.
The conversation can adjust as those priorities change without forcing the shopper to restart.
Configure discovery around how your dealership sells.
Use AskHandle components to define the questions that matter, the sources behind recommendations and what should happen after a shopper finds a fit.
Question Flow
Ask structured follow-up questions to understand budget, vehicle needs, preferences and priorities.
Data Search
Use structured dealership inventory to identify vehicles that match the preferences collected during the discovery conversation.
AI Answer with Product Cards enabled
Present relevant vehicles in structured cards so shoppers can compare options quickly.
AI Answer with Image Answers enabled
Show vehicle images when visual context helps the shopper evaluate recommended options.
AI Answer with Live Web Search enabled
Search a dealership website or another provided URL when relevant vehicle information already lives online.
Document Search
Answer dealership, model, feature, policy and process questions from approved knowledge sources.
AI Answer with Scheduling enabled
Let shoppers move from a recommended vehicle directly into available test-drive times and book inside the conversation.
Human Handoff
Bring dealership staff into the conversation when the shopper wants personal guidance or reaches a defined handoff point.
The template can then be tuned around the dealership's brands, inventory mix, customer profile and preferred discovery logic.
What is conversational vehicle discovery?
Conversational vehicle discovery helps shoppers narrow down suitable vehicle options by describing their needs, budget and preferences in natural language before searching exact dealership inventory.
How is vehicle discovery different from vehicle inventory search?
Vehicle discovery helps a shopper decide what type of vehicle may fit their needs. Vehicle inventory search retrieves exact available vehicles once the shopper's criteria are clear.
Can the conversation recommend vehicles using dealership inventory?
Yes. Preferences collected during the conversation can be used to search structured dealership inventory and surface relevant available vehicles.
Can shoppers change their preferences during the conversation?
Yes. The flow can adjust as the shopper adds new requirements, changes priorities or rules out options.
Can vehicle cards and images be shown in the conversation?
Yes. Relevant vehicles can be presented using product-style cards and images when those assets are available.
Can the shopper schedule a test drive after choosing a vehicle?
Yes. Once a shopper identifies a vehicle they want to see, available times can be presented and the test drive can be booked directly in the conversation.