Smartcar

What Smartcar does

Smartcar is a unified API platform for connected vehicles, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, with a remote-first workforce of 101–250 employees distributed across the United States and the United Kingdom. The platform enables developers and mobility businesses to integrate with electric, hybrid, and gas vehicles through a single connection covering 40+ automakers and 30+ countries, replacing the need to build and maintain dozens of OEM-specific integrations. Its product surface is organized around three core products — Signals (real-time vehicle data retrieval via webhooks), Commands (remote vehicle control including charging, lock/unlock, and destination), and Smartcar Connect (OAuth2-based user consent) — supported by a Compatibility API, standardized signal schema introduced in API V3, and SDKs across major server and mobile languages.

The company's core technology combines OAuth2-based application-level authentication with a webhooks-first data delivery architecture, enabling real-time streaming of OEM-grade vehicle data without polling. API V3 (announced April 2026) replaced per-vehicle tokens with application-level tokens valid for one hour, introduced a unified signal schema across all OEMs, and added endpoints for webhook and command management. Smartcar is SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and GDPR compliant across all pricing tiers, a positioning aimed at utility, public sector, and European enterprise buyers.

Commercially, Smartcar operates a hybrid model: a self-serve developer motion with a free tier and a Build tier starting at $1.99 per vehicle per application per month, layered with usage-based Command API charges and custom enterprise pricing for larger deployments. Customers span energy management (Bidgely, Optiwatt, BluWave-ai, Wallbox, Oati), ride-hailing (Uber, Lyft), EV charging (ChargePoint, Wallbox), insurance (The Floow), and public-sector road usage charging (Emovis), with ride-hailing and energy management representing the most visible verticals. To date Smartcar has raised $36 million from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Energize Ventures, led by the January 2022 Series B of $24 million.

Name

Smartcar

Legal name

Smartcar

Website

https://smartcar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Smartcar provides a unified API platform enabling developers and mobility businesses to integrate with 40+ vehicle brands through standardized data retrieval, remote vehicle commands, and OAuth2-based consent management, serving energy, auto services, ride-hailing, insurance, and fleet customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Connected Vehicle API Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Video Telematics, ADAS & AI Dashcams (TLAEAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fleet Access & Keyless Systems (Digital Keys, Telematics-Enabled Access Control) (TLABALAI)

Keywords

• Connected vehicle API
• Car data platform
• Mobility software
• EV integration API
• Automotive developer tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Per-vehicle subscription: Pricing based on number of connected vehicles. Free tier includes 1 connected vehicle, Build tier at $1.99/vehicle/application/month with up to 100 connected vehicles, custom plans for enterprise.
2. Command API usage: Command API calls incur usage-based charges. Build plan includes 100 commands/month shared across all vehicles, additional commands may incur overages.
3. Enterprise custom pricing: Custom tier with tiered usage-based pricing, volume discounts, SLAs, certifications, and tailored Command API calls for scaling organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smartcar provides a unified API platform for connected vehicles, enabling developers and mobility businesses to integrate with electric, hybrid, and gas vehicles across 40+ automakers. The platform offers standardized data retrieval (Signals), remote vehicle control (Commands), and OAuth2-based consent management (Connect) through a single integration with webhooks-first real-time delivery.

Product overview

Smartcar is a unified API platform for connected vehicles that provides developer tools to integrate with electric, hybrid, and gas vehicles. The product portfolio centers on the core API platform with three primary product areas: Signals (data retrieval for vehicle state data), Commands (remote vehicle control), and Connect (OAuth2-based consent management). Supporting platform features include Vehicle management, Analytics, Teams collaboration, Global coverage (40+ brands across 30+ countries), and Data security/compliance. The platform uses webhooks-first architecture for real-time data delivery and offers SDKs for multiple programming languages. Pricing tiers include Free (1 vehicle, limited features), Build ($1.99/vehicle/month for startups), and Custom Enterprise plans with advanced features like AI Docs Search and Smart Chat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signals Vehicle data retrieval API enabling developers to access real-time data points for the state of a vehicle including battery level, charge state, location, odometer, tire pressure, fuel level, and more. Data is delivered via webhooks or on-demand API requests.
• Commands Remote vehicle control API enabling developers to send commands to vehicles including start/stop charging, set charge limit, lock/unlock doors, and set destination. Standardizes all commands into a unified request format across all OEMs.
• Connect OAuth2-based consent and authorization flow that enables customers to securely grant applications access to their vehicle data. Includes customizable branding, transparent permission scopes, easy password reset flows per brand, and Connect Insights for troubleshooting user sessions. Available as SDKs for Android, iOS, JavaScript, and Flutter.
• Compatible Brands Vehicle compatibility verification tool allowing developers to explore compatibility by brand, model, and year. Includes the Compatibility API (based on VIN or region/brand) to verify vehicle eligibility before directing users through Smartcar Connect.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced month-end close by more than 5 business days using Smartcar's finance operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Volkswagen Group Info Services AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 30 April 2026Integration enabling developers to support Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi models via single connection across 30+ European countries. Focus on EV use cases including smart charging, battery monitoring, and grid management.
• Emulate EnergycoreTechnology or Integration · 14 November 2024Strategic partnership integrating EVs into Emulate Energy's DERMS platform for energy providers. Smartcar provides automated data retrieval and charging session management across 35+ EV brands, enabling energy providers to leverage EV charging flexibility for grid balancing and peak demand reduction.
• LyftcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 September 2024Partnership to launch 'Rides in Range' feature that automatically matches EV drivers with rides within their current battery range including a 20-mile buffer. Uses Smartcar's battery data API to alert drivers when charging is needed. Supports Lyft's goal of 100 million EV rides by end of 2025.
• BMWcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to power secure, scalable smart charging across Europe with BMW
• Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services GmbH (MBCS)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration in the energy space in Europe for Mercedes-Benz connectivity
• FordcoreTechnology or IntegrationExpanded partnership with Ford in Europe to expand access to connected vehicle APIs
• TeslacoreTechnology or IntegrationContinued partnership with Tesla for vehicle data and command integration

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• High Mobility: Berlin-based unified vehicle API platform that gives developers standardized access to OEM data and remote commands across multiple automakers. Direct competitor to Smartcar across European OEMs and developer-first connected vehicle integrations.

Broad incumbents

• Geotab: Global fleet telematics leader with vehicle data offerings and OEM integrations. Competes with Smartcar for fleet customers needing odometer, fuel, and location signals, but is hardware-attached and broader in scope.
• Samsara: IoT and telematics platform serving commercial fleets and industrial operations. Provides adjacent vehicle data and is frequently considered by fleet buyers alongside Smartcar, though Samsara is hardware-led and broader.
• Verizon Connect: Fleet telematics and connected vehicle platform combining telematics hardware, software, and Verizon network assets. Broad incumbent serving many of the same SMB-to-enterprise fleet and mobility buyers Smartcar targets.
• HERE Technologies: Location and connected vehicle services provider owned by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Offers vehicle data platforms that intersect with Smartcar's territory, particularly for location-centric automotive data and mapping.
• Bosch Mobility Solutions: Automotive supplier with a connected vehicle services portfolio spanning fleet, telematics, and vehicle data platforms. Adjacent competitor with deep OEM relationships across both European and North American automakers.
• Continental: Global automotive supplier with a connected vehicle services portfolio that includes fleet, telematics, and V2X offerings. Competes for OEM-driven vehicle data programs and tier-1 fleet deployments that touch Smartcar's territory.

Emerging players

• Mojio: Connected car SaaS platform delivering vehicle data to insurance, fleet, and mobility apps. Smaller and narrower than Smartcar but overlapping on developer-first connected vehicle APIs and telematics service providers.
• DIMO: Decentralized vehicle data network enabling developers to access connected vehicle telemetry via blockchain-based infrastructure. Emerging alternative to Smartcar's centralized API approach, focused on user-owned data monetization.

Others

• Cox Automotive: Parent of automotive software brands including Dealertrack, Autotrader, and Manheim with deep vehicle data assets across dealership and remarketing ecosystems. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct developer-API competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartcar
• Xx.com/mysmartcar
• GitHubgithub.com/smartcar
• Facebookfacebook.com/smartcar

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smartcar