NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas will host several automotive AI vendors. Every booth will claim to have the best AI solution for dealerships, making it difficult to distinguish between a simple chatbot and a truly intelligent digital voice assistant. Ask the hard-hitting questions to determine which technology actually solves your operational problems and which adds friction. Here’s a cheatsheet with thought starters as you speak with dealer AI providers.
Capability
The following questions can help dealers determine if the AI does the work:
1. Does this AI service actually answer and resolve calls, or does it just route them?
Many “AI” systems represent nothing more than a digital phone tree in which callers must press 1 for service, for example. This results in dead ends and dropped calls. Instead, you want a system that completes the task as an employee would. It shouldn’t just transfer a customer but rather provide the user with personalized and efficient service, looking up availability and booking the appointment within the conversation.
2. Can the AI platform handle calls for multiple departments?
Customers don’t always call the right line. The AI assistant should be intelligent enough to answer a Service call, realize the customer actually needs Parts, and either answer the Parts question (if capable) or intelligently route them without dropping the call.
3. Does it offer performance insights?
The system should provide actionable intelligence. Ask the vendor if their dashboard tracks real engagement outcomes to help you gauge BDC and service drive performance.
Complex tasks
The following questions help you find an AI solution that can handle some of the more complex needs.
4. Can the AI system handle recalls?
Recalls are complex, requiring VIN lookup, parts availability checks, and specific scheduling protocols. The AI needs to be able to read the VIN, ping the manufacturer data, verify if the part is in stock, and schedule the specific recall service operation code.
5. Can it place outbound calls, or is it inbound only?
Dealers lose revenue on unconfirmed appointments and missed recall opportunities. A robust AI can be leveraged to actively call and re-engage customers to confirm appointments, notify them of parts arrival, and alert them to open recalls. With a tool like STELLA Catalyst, you can launch a text or voice campaign in minutes, without needing to hire more staff.
Integration and infrastructure
You should also ask questions to gauge how well conversational AI plays with your existing tech stack.
6. What specific systems does it integrate with?
Many bots can “read” a schedule but cannot “write” (book) directly into the DMS or Scheduler without a human approving it later. Demand real-time integration. If the AI books a slot, it should vanish from the scheduler instantly. This is where STELLA Automotive AI shines, with key integrations with major players in the industry and built-in safeguards to avoid double booking.
7. Does it offer a seamless human handoff?
Sometimes a customer is irate or has a unique issue. The AI must know when to transfer a call to a human. It should transfer the call to a human staff member along with a transcript or summary of the conversation so the customer doesn’t have to repeat themselves. This eliminates frustration for the customer and makes the experience more efficient.
The customer experience
Ask the following questions to find an AI that represents the dealership brand well.
8. What is the latency? Can I hear a demo right now?
Customers hate the “awkward pause” after they speak to an AI voice agent. You are looking for conversational speed that feels like talking to a person. STELLA’s natural language processing and speed allow it to offer natural-sounding speech, understanding what the customer is asking for and providing answers quickly.
9. Is it available 24/7/365? Does it offer after-hours call handling?
Car problems don’t adhere to 9-to-5 dealership hours. The system must be fully operational after hours and on holidays, capable of booking Monday morning appointments while the dealership is closed.
The wrong AI will frustrate customers, but the right AI (one that answers, resolves, integrates, and reaches out) will revolutionize your dealership’s absorption rates and BDC efficiency.
Experience the difference of a true digital voice assistant. Visit the STELLA Automotive AI booth at NADA 2026 and ask us these exact questions. We’re ready to answer.
