SPARQ

What SPARQ does

SPARQ, Inc. is an Irvine, California-based automotive AI startup founded in 2024 by Codrin Cobzaru and Daniel Nieh that sells an AI-powered OBD-II diagnostic device paired with a smartphone application. The hardware dongle plugs into a vehicle's OBD-II port and performs over 50,000 generic and manufacturer-specific inspections in under 45 seconds, covering engine, fuel, transmission, electrical, ignition, exhaust, suspension, steering, lighting, A/C, tire pressure, and brake systems. The companion iOS app (Android in development) layers a multi-modal conversational AI assistant on top of the structured diagnostic data, offering natural-language explanations, photo-based tire tread capture, a 0–100 health score, local repair cost estimates, and a Timelapse feature that aggregates vehicle history (ownership, accidents, title records, recalls) to replace CarFax reports. Compatibility is currently limited to US and Canada-spec gas, hybrid, and diesel vehicles built after 2008; EVs are out of scope.

The company operates a product-led, direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion, selling the device for a one-time $129 price (no subscription for device owners) through Amazon and its own e-commerce storefront, with earned media (Supercar Blondie, OC Business Journal, Family Handyman) and trade show presence (LA Auto Show, SEMA 2025 Official Product Award winner) driving top-of-funnel awareness. Two newer lines diversify the model: SPARQ LABS, an annual subscription membership bundling free diagnostics, labor, OEM parts, roadside assistance, and access to physical SPARQ LAB service centers; and SPARQ CoLab, a waitlist-stage B2B marketplace launched at SEMA Show 2025 that connects drivers to independent mechanics for shared diagnostics and appointment scheduling. Expansion into big box retail, international markets, and Android is in development.

Name

SPARQ

Legal name

SPARQ, Inc.

Website

https://joinsparq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SPARQ sells a $129 AI-powered OBD-II diagnostic device and companion iOS app that perform 50,000+ vehicle checks in under 45 seconds, translating results into plain-language explanations, cost estimates, and vehicle history reports for individual car owners, with newer B2B mechanic (CoLab) and subscription service (LABS) lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Device Sales (One-time Hardware Purchase): SPARQ sells its OBD-II diagnostic device as a one-time purchase at $129 per unit with free shipping. There is no subscription fee or recurring charge for device owners. This is the primary revenue stream for the consumer product line.
2. SPARQ Membership / Subscription (SPARQ LABS): The company also operates a subscription-based membership service (SPARQ LABS) offering comprehensive car servicing, light repairs, cosmetic repairs, OEM parts replacement, roadside assistance, and free diagnostics at SPARQ LAB service center locations. Members receive the SPARQ device free as a benefit. The annual fee covers one passenger vehicle and auto-renews on a 12-month cycle. Vehicle Parts are charged separately on an as-needed basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPARQ sells an AI-powered OBD-II diagnostic device ($129, one-time purchase, no subscription) that plugs into a vehicle's OBD-II port and pairs via Bluetooth with a companion smartphone app to perform 50,000+ mechanic-grade inspections in under 45 seconds. The app delivers plain-language AI explanations, a 0–100 Health Score, vehicle history reports, tire-tread analysis, and local repair cost estimates. SPARQ also operates an annual SPARQ LABS membership service at physical service centers and a SPARQ CoLab platform connecting drivers with independent mechanics.

Product overview

SPARQ offers an integrated suite of automotive diagnostic products built around a core OBD-II hardware device and companion app. The flagship SPARQ Diagnostics Device ($129, no subscription) plugs into the vehicle's OBD-II port and performs 50,000+ inspections in under 45 seconds, feeding data to the SPARQ App. Within the app, SPARQ AI serves as the conversational interface — enabling natural language Q&A, photo-based tire inspections, and cost estimates. SPARQ Timelapse provides vehicle history and predictive maintenance insights, replacing CarFax. An upcoming/waitlist add-on, SPARQ CoLab, enables direct driver-to-mechanic connectivity for shared diagnostics and service scheduling. The full stack is iOS-first (Android planned), currently US/Canada-only, with international expansion in development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPARQ AI: AI-powered conversational assistant that allows users to talk to their car, ask questions, and get diagnostics explanations in natural language.
• SPARQ Diagnostics
• SPARQ CoLab

Products and services

• SPARQ Diagnostics Device An OBD-II diagnostic device that plugs into a vehicle's OBD-II port and pairs via Bluetooth with the SPARQ app to perform over 50,000 mechanic-grade inspections across engine, fuel, transmission, electrical, ignition, exhaust, drive train, suspension, steering, lighting, A/C, tire pressure, brakes, and fluids systems. Priced at $129 with a 2-year warranty, free shipping, and a 30-day money-back guarantee; no subscription fees. Compatible with 2008+ gas, hybrid, and diesel vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.
• SPARQ App A free iOS companion mobile application that pairs with the SPARQ Diagnostics Device to deliver AI-powered conversational diagnostics (SPARQ AI), a 0–100 Health Score, vehicle history reports (SPARQ Timelapse), tire tread photo capture, and localized repair cost estimates. Free to download; Android version planned.
• SPARQ LABS Membership An annual subscription service (auto-renewing on a 12-month cycle) covering one passenger vehicle, providing free labor, comprehensive servicing, light and cosmetic repairs, OEM parts replacement at MSRP, free annual state inspection, roadside assistance within 45 minutes of a SPARQ LAB location, complimentary car wash, and tire storage, plus a complimentary SPARQ device. Vehicle parts are charged separately at MSRP with price disclosed before service. Delivered through physical SPARQ LAB service centers.
• SPARQ CoLab A B2B marketplace platform that enables drivers to share their SPARQ diagnostic data directly with trusted independent mechanics for collaborative service scheduling and transparent repair conversations. Mechanics join via waitlist at joinsparq.com/marketplace and receive remote diagnostic data from customers ahead of appointments. Launched at SEMA Show 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• Performs 50,000+ diagnostic checks in under 45 seconds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Diagnostics: Bosch is a major incumbent in automotive diagnostic equipment, with OBD-related tools spanning pro-grade and consumer tiers. As a broad incumbent with deep OEM relationships and global distribution, it competes across SPARQ's potential expansion into Europe.
• Innova: Innova is a long-established brand selling professional and consumer OBD-II diagnostic scan tools through retail (including big box stores like Walmart and AutoZone). It is a broader incumbent competing for the same DIY segment and already occupies much of the big-box shelf space SPARQ is pursuing.
• AutoZone: AutoZone is the largest US specialty retailer of aftermarket automotive parts and diagnostics. SPARQ is pursuing big-box/retail expansion that would put it on shelves alongside AutoZone's private-label and third-party OBD-II scanners, and AutoZone also offers its own diagnostic services.

Emerging players

• YourMechanic: YourMechanic is a marketplace platform connecting car owners with mobile mechanics for at-home servicing — directly overlapping with SPARQ LABS' physical-service model and SPARQ CoLab's driver-mechanic matchmaking thesis.
• Bafx Products: Bafx sells low-cost Bluetooth OBD-II scanners on Amazon targeting the DIY consumer. It competes with SPARQ in the same Amazon marketplace, similar price band, and similar DIY consumer use case.

Direct peers

• FIXD: FIXD sells a consumer OBD-II sensor and subscription app that translates check engine lights and vehicle issues into plain language. It directly competes with SPARQ's consumer diagnostic value proposition, though FIXD uses a recurring subscription model whereas SPARQ is one-time.
• BlueDriver: BlueDriver is a leading consumer OBD-II diagnostic scanner paired with a mobile app, widely considered the category leader. It directly competes with SPARQ on the same target customer (individual car owners), same delivery mechanism (OBD-II dongle + smartphone app), and same pain points (DIY diagnostics and mechanic transparency).
• Carly: Carly offers a Bluetooth OBD-II adapter and app focused on premium/luxury brand diagnostics (BMW, Mercedes, VW group). It overlaps SPARQ on the OBD-II hardware + AI/app concept and competes for the same DIY car-owner segment, particularly enthusiasts with European vehicles.
• OBDeleven: OBDeleven provides OBD-II diagnostic tools with a mobile app targeting both consumers and independent workshops, with strong VAG-group (Audi/VW) coverage. It is a direct competitor in the OBD-II dongle + app + diagnostics category.

Others

• Carfax: Carfax is the dominant provider of vehicle history reports ($50–$200 each), which SPARQ Timelapse directly replaces via bundled vehicle history. Carfax is an adjacent/incumbent data vendor rather than a diagnostic competitor, but is the closest comparable for the vehicle-history use case.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sparqinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SPARQ