What Epikar does

EPIKAR Inc. is a privately held South Korean software company founded in 2016 in Seoul by CEO Bosuk Han, a former BMW Group Korea executive. The company builds an AI-first digital retail operating system for automotive dealerships that unifies the full vehicle lifecycle—from autonomous showroom access and consultation, through test drives, contracts, payments, and delivery, to aftersales service—on a single modular platform. The core technology stack includes proprietary modules such as the Intelligent Workshop System (IWS), BMW Test-Drive Service (BTS), Dealer Network Platform (DNP), EPIKAR Genie (an AI chatbot agent purpose-built for automotive sales consultants), Drive2U (on-demand test drive), and EntryGo (24/7 self-service showroom), all underpinned by an OEM-specific data pipeline and automotive-domain prompt configuration.

EPIKAR's revenue model combines recurring platform/SaaS licensing (deployed across BMW Korea's 75 after-sales service branches, all BMW sales branches, Renault Korea's dealer network, and Volvo Korea's online sales channels) with professional services for nationwide implementations such as BMW Korea's full-packaged IWS rollout. The company also operates three Renault Korea corporate dealerships in Seoul's Gangnam district, which function as both a reference channel and a direct revenue-generating retail operation. Customers are exclusively enterprise-scale: automotive OEMs (BMW Korea, Renault Korea, Volvo Korea) and large dealer groups, distributed via direct enterprise field sales and OEM-embedded deployment rather than self-serve.

In 2024 EPIKAR completed a corporate flip, establishing a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary and relocating its strategic headquarters to the United States to target what the CEO describes as the world's most mature automotive market. The first major U.S. commercial milestone was a 2025 AI-driven dealer operations agreement with Auto Gallery, a used-car dealer group generating approximately USD 600M in annual revenue across Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. EPIKAR has filed 3 patents and 5 trademarks (pending) and has received awards including a 2019 BMW Global Sales Success Case No.1 and Seoul Global Startup Center No.1 in 2016.

Name

Epikar

Legal name

EPIKAR Inc.

Website

https://epikar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EPIKAR is a Korean SaaS company founded in 2016 that provides an AI-first digital retail operating system for automotive dealerships. It serves OEMs including BMW Korea, Renault Korea, and Volvo Korea, and expanded into the US market in 2024 via an Auto Gallery partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Dealership Software

NAICS

Used Car Dealers (44112), Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces (CRAFAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Catalog & eProcurement Enablement (Punchout, Item Master) (BPAAAJAI)

Keywords

• Automotive dealership software
• Automotive retail OS
• Dealer management platform
• AI sales consultation
• Automotive aftersales software

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Platform Software Licensing (SaaS): EPIKAR provides its digital retail OS to automotive dealerships and OEMs on a subscription basis. The platform is deployed across dealer networks (e.g., BMW IWS across 75 service centers, Renault DNP) indicating recurring SaaS/license fees.
2. Professional Services & Implementation: Implementation and deployment services for OEM partners (e.g., full-packaged IWS nationwide for BMW KR), likely one-time professional services fees alongside recurring platform revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

EPIKAR provides an AI-first digital retail operating system for automotive dealerships that unifies the full vehicle lifecycle—autonomous showroom access, AI-powered consultation, test drive booking, omnichannel lead management, e-contracts and payments, delivery, service operations, and aftersales—on a single modular platform. The platform is sold to enterprise automotive OEMs (e.g., BMW Korea, Renault Korea, Volvo Korea) and large dealer groups (e.g., Auto Gallery in the U.S.) on a subscription basis, with additional implementation and professional services for nationwide OEM rollouts.

Product overview

EPIKAR is a digital retail OS for automotive dealerships offering a modular platform architecture that unifies the entire vehicle purchase journey. The core platform integrates AI-powered sales consultation automation (EPIKAR Genie), omnichannel lead management, service operations optimization (BMW IWS), end-to-end contract execution, dealer operations management, and delivery services (EPIKAR Delivery Service). The product portfolio includes specialized solutions for test drives (Drive2U, EntryGo, BMW BTS, MTS), aftersales service (BMW OAS, Service Care+), and customer engagement (BMW My Account, BMW Kiosk). Dealerships can select and scale features based on their business needs through the modular architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EPIKAR Genie: AI chatbot agent for vehicle consultants that automates 24/7 consultations and vehicle inquiries.
• Drive2U
• EntryGo
• PIKAR Delivery
• DNP (Dealer Network Platform)

Products and services

• EPIKAR Platform AI-first digital retail operating system for automotive dealerships that unifies the entire vehicle purchase journey—from consultation and test drives through contracts, payments, delivery, and aftersales—on a single modular platform. Sold to enterprise automotive OEMs and large dealer groups on a subscription basis.
• EPIKAR Genie AI chatbot agent purpose-built for the automotive industry that automates 24/7 sales consultations, test drive bookings, and vehicle inquiries for OEM and dealer sales teams.
• Drive2U On-demand test drive solution enabling customers to schedule and manage vehicle test drives on demand through the dealer platform.
• EntryGo 24/7 digital self-service showroom allowing autonomous showroom access and vehicle browsing and inquiries outside business hours.
• DNP (Dealer Network Platform) Dealer network platform unifying Renault Korea's retail operations across dealer network management, test drive operations, digital showrooms, and AI-powered consultation.
• BMW IWS (Intelligent Workshop System) Intelligent Workshop System for BMW Korea aftersales service centers providing real-time booking (OAS integration), job assignment, maintenance tracking, and integrated dealer operations across the BMW service network.
• BMW BTS (BMW Test-Drive Service) Test drive reservation and management platform deployed across all BMW Korea sales branches.
• MTS (Mini Test Drive Service) Test drive reservation and management platform for all BMW MINI dealerships in Korea.
• BMW OAS (Online Appointment System) Online appointment scheduling system for BMW Korea service centers, integrated with the IWS aftersales platform.
• BMW Service Care+ Aftersales subscription service for BMW Korea vehicles providing bundled maintenance and service packages.
• BMW My Account Customer account management system for BMW Korea owners providing access to vehicle information and services.
• BMW Kiosk System Self-service kiosk system deployed in BMW Korea dealerships enabling customers to complete transactions and inquiries independently.
• All the time MINI Korea's first premium vehicle subscription service for MINI vehicles, operated on the EPIKAR platform.
• EPIKAR Delivery Service (PIKAR Delivery) Vehicle delivery service integrated into the EPIKAR dealer operations platform for streamlined last-mile delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• KRW 50B+ cumulative GMV processed on the platform
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Auto GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Large used car dealer group with approximately USD 600M in annual revenue across Georgia, Florida, and Alabama (Southeastern U.S.). EPIKAR partnered under a commercial agreement delivering an AI-driven dealer operations platform that automates and optimizes sales, customer engagement, and inventory management.
• BMW KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore OEM partner driving digital transformation of BMW Korea sales, test drive, and service center operations. EPIKAR deployed IWS (Intelligent/Innovation Workshop System) across 75 BMW service centers nationwide, integrating real-time booking (OAS), test drive management (DTS), and fleet management into a unified Sales–After Sales digital platform.
• Renault KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic OEM partner for digitalization of retail, test drive, and dealer operations. EPIKAR implemented dealer digital platform (DNP), test drive operations, digital showrooms, and AI-powered consultation solutions, unifying the entire end-to-end retail journey for Renault Korea.
• Volvo KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOEM partner focused on building digital sales channels. EPIKAR developed online sales channels and designed a digital purchase journey, extending Volvo Korea's traditionally offline sales model into a scalable online retail operation.
• Seoul National UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic-industrial cooperation with Seoul National University on developing in-vehicle data utilization technology.
• Hanyang UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic-industrial cooperation with Hanyang University on a technology development project for leading university development in automotive technology.
• UX Institute of Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed in 2023 with Prof. Lee Kwan Min's UX Institute at NTU Singapore for academic-industrial cooperation.
• Google for StartupsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEPIKAR is a member of the Google for Startups Cloud Credit Program, gaining access to Google Cloud infrastructure and startup support resources.
• SK Telecom & DongBu InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed in 2018 with SKT and DongBu Insurance for co-development of in-vehicle data utilization insurance solution using connected vehicle data.
• LGTCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOC conducted in 2018 with LGTCA for an in-vehicle data utilization blockchain platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tekion: Tekion is an AI-first automotive retail cloud platform serving dealers and OEMs, with a unified dealer management system spanning sales, service, and CRM. Most direct comparable to EPIKAR given the AI-first positioning and end-to-end lifecycle coverage.
• VinSolutions: VinSolutions (a Cox Automotive company) is a leading automotive CRM and dealer digital retailing platform, serving franchised dealers with customer engagement, desking, and inventory tools. Directly comparable as a dealer-focused digital retail and CRM platform with overlapping features.
• Impel: Impel provides AI-powered customer lifecycle and sales engagement software for automotive dealers, including conversational AI, messaging, and digital merchandising. Directly comparable as an AI-first software layer for automotive retail with similar product overlap to EPIKAR Genie and omnichannel lead management.
• Roadster: Roadster offers a digital retailing platform for automotive dealers and OEMs, enabling online vehicle configuration, e-commerce, and seamless handoff between digital and showroom experiences. Directly comparable to EPIKAR's digital retail OS for sales consultation and contract execution.
• DealerSocket: DealerSocket provides dealer management and CRM software to franchised automotive dealers, including desking, equity mining, and customer engagement tools. Comparable as a dealer SaaS platform with overlapping functionality in CRM and dealer operations management.
• Auto/Mate (now part of Reynolds): Auto/Mate provides dealership management system (DMS) software to franchised auto dealers with focus on operational efficiency and integrations. Comparable as a specialist dealer operations platform overlapping with EPIKAR's dealer management capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• CDK Global: CDK Global is the largest provider of dealership management systems and integrated dealer technology in North America, serving franchised auto dealers with software, hardware, and digital retailing tools. Comparable as a broad incumbent that EPIKAR competes with for OEM and dealer mindshare.
• Cox Automotive: Cox Automotive operates a broad portfolio of dealer solutions including Dealertrack, VinSolutions, and Manheim auctions, serving franchised and independent dealers across the vehicle lifecycle. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping dealer operations and digital retail capabilities.
• Reynolds and Reynolds: Reynolds and Reynolds provides dealership management systems, retailing solutions, and document services to franchised automotive dealers in North America. Comparable as an established incumbent in dealer operations software that EPIKAR's modular platform competes with.
• Salesforce Industries (Automotive Cloud): Salesforce's Automotive Cloud offers enterprise CRM, customer engagement, and partner management for automotive OEMs and dealers globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent CRM and customer data platform that OEMs may select over a specialist platform like EPIKAR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epikar-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 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 Epikar