Car Project

What Car Project does

AutoScout24 operates Europe's largest online automotive marketplace, connecting private vehicle buyers and sellers with professional car dealers through country-specific platforms in eight European markets (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Luxembourg). The Belgian operating entity, AutoScout24 Belgium S.A., is headquartered in Brussels and operates under the AutoScout24 GmbH parent in Grünwald, Germany. The core platform supports vehicle search, free private-seller listings, premium dealer subscriptions, vehicle valuation, integrated auto financing (Santander Consumer Finance), insurance, leasing, and content (automotive magazine, news, tests). It is delivered through web (autoscout24.be), native iOS and Android applications, and country-specific sub-brands including Smyle (vehicle subscription), AutoProff, LeasingMarkt.de, and AutoScout24 Media.

The technology stack centers on a two-sided marketplace platform with AI-mediated inquiry assistance (LeadAssistant, built on OpenAI's ChatGPT) for optimizing buyer-to-dealer communications, supported by extensive analytics infrastructure (Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, Adjust, Optimizely, Datadog, Iterable) and integrations with advertising networks (Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, Amazon Ads, Bing Ads) plus identity and audience platforms (ID5, LiveRamp, Lotame, Eyeota, Mediarithmics, zeotap). The platform processes fewer than 45 million average monthly active EU users (July-December 2024, per Digital Services Act Article 24(2) reporting) and operates GDPR-compliant data processing across all eight national entities.

The business model combines five revenue streams: (1) recurring professional dealer subscription fees for listing vehicles and lead management tools, (2) premium listing upgrades for enhanced visibility, (3) display and behavioral advertising across owned inventory, (4) third-party referral and integration fees for financing, insurance, and leasing, and (5) Smyle recurring vehicle subscription revenue bundling vehicle sale, registration, insurance, delivery, warranty, and financing. Private sellers list for free under a freemium model. The company is privately held as a national entity of AutoScout24 GmbH with no publicly disclosed funding history or revenue figures.

Name

Car Project

Legal name

AutoScout24 Belgium S.A.

Website

https://autoscout24.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AutoScout24 operates Europe's largest online automotive marketplace across eight countries, connecting private buyers and sellers with professional dealers through web, iOS, and Android platforms, monetizing via dealer subscriptions, advertising, financial services referrals, and the Smyle vehicle subscription product.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Automotive Marketplace

NAICS

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (441), Automobile Dealers (4411), Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (4412)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Vehicles & Parts C2C (CRAFAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA), Non-Standard / High-Risk Personal Auto Insurance (FSAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Online automotive marketplace
• Used car listings
• Dealer subscription services
• Vehicle subscription platform
• Automotive advertising network

Headquarters

HQ city

Grünwald

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Dealer Subscriptions: Professional car dealers pay subscription fees for listing vehicles, accessing dealer tools, and receiving leads from the platform. Dealers register with company details, VAT number, and receive dedicated support.
2. Premium Listing Services: Professional sellers can purchase premium/exclusive listing options beyond basic free listings, with features like enhanced visibility and extended listing duration.
3. Advertising Services: The platform monetizes through online advertising including display ads, targeted advertising based on user behavior, and integration with advertising networks (Google Ads, Facebook, Amazon Ads, etc.).
4. Third-Party Services Integration: Commission or referral fees from integrated financial services including auto financing (Santander Consumer Finance), auto insurance, and leasing services offered through the platform.
5. Smyle Vehicle Subscription: Smyle, a subsidiary of AutoScout24 Germany, offers vehicle subscription services including vehicle sale, registration, insurance, delivery, breakdown assistance, warranty, and financing. Revenue from subscription fees and transaction processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

AutoScout24 operates a pan-European online automotive marketplace connecting private sellers and professional car dealers with buyers across 8 countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Luxembourg). The platform enables vehicle search, listing, valuation, dealer inquiries, and integrated financing/insurance/ leasing via third-party partners, supplemented by an AI-powered LeadAssistant and a vehicle subscription sub-brand (Smyle).

Product overview

AutoScout24 operates as a comprehensive online automotive marketplace platform across Europe. The core offering is the AutoScout24 Marketplace, where users can buy and sell new and used vehicles. The platform includes various supporting products: LeadAssistant (AI-powered inquiry assistant), Express Selling and Direct Selling modules for quick vehicle transactions, and AutoScout360 for account management. Additional brands in the AutoScout24 family include Smyle (vehicle subscription service), AutoScout24 Media (advertising), AutoProff, and LeasingMarkt.de. The platform also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, integrating with various third-party services for analytics, advertising, and customer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AutoProff: Online automotive marketplace and classifieds platform for vehicles
• LeasingMarkt.de
• Smyle
• AutoScout24 Media

Products and services

• AutoScout24 Marketplace Pan-European online automotive marketplace that lets users search, list and compare new and used vehicles (cars, motorcycles, electric vehicles, classic cars), contact sellers, get a free vehicle valuation, and access integrated financing, insurance and leasing options. Available via website and iOS/Android apps in multiple languages including Dutch and French for the Belgian/Luxembourg market.
• Smyle Vehicle Subscription Vehicle subscription service offered by AutoScout24 Smyle GmbH that lets customers subscribe to a vehicle with registration, insurance, delivery, breakdown assistance, warranty insurance and financing bundled in. Operated from Grünwald, Germany.
• LeadAssistant AI-powered inquiry assistant that automatically completes and linguistically optimizes user messages sent to professional car sellers. Built on OpenAI's ChatGPT model with anonymized dialog data retained for a maximum of 30 days.
• AutoScout24 iOS App Native iOS application that gives users access to the AutoScout24 marketplace on iPhone and iPad, including vehicle search, listing management and dealer communication.
• AutoScout24 Android App Native Android application that gives users access to the AutoScout24 marketplace on Android smartphones and tablets, including vehicle search, listing management and dealer communication.
• AutoProff Wholly-owned sub-brand of the AutoScout24 Group providing an online platform focused on automotive professional services.
• LeasingMarkt.de Wholly-owned sub-brand of the AutoScout24 Group operating an online marketplace for vehicle leasing offers.
• AutoScout24 Media Wholly-owned sub-brand of the AutoScout24 Group providing advertising and media services to automotive marketers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platform with less than 45 million average monthly active users in the EU (July-December 2024)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration28 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Smyle (AutoScout24 Smyle GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmyle is a subsidiary of AutoScout24 Germany offering vehicle subscription services including vehicle sales, registration, insurance, delivery, breakdown assistance, warranty, and financing. AutoScout24 Germany and Smyle jointly process customer data for order fulfillment and customer support. Located at Tölzer Str. 16, 82031 Grünwald, Germany.
• AutoScout24 Subscription GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly processes data for the automobile subscription service alongside AutoScout24 Belgium and Casi AS. Located at Bothestraße 11-15, 81675 Munich, Germany.
• Meta Platforms Ireland (Facebook)majorTechnology or IntegrationFacebook single sign-on (SSO) integration for user registration/login. Facebook Pixel and iOS/Android SDK integrated for advertising, retargeting, and audience measurement. Joint controllership for Insights data processing on AutoScout24 Facebook page.
• LinkedInmajorTechnology or IntegrationLinkedIn Page integration for company presence and professional networking. Joint controllership for LinkedIn Insights data on AutoScout24 LinkedIn page.
• Google Ireland LimitedmajorTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Analytics for web analytics, Google Ads for advertising, Google Ad Manager 360 for ad serving, YouTube video integration, and Google Firebase Crashlytics for app crash reporting. YouTube used in enhanced privacy mode.
• OpenAI Ireland Ltd.majorTechnology or IntegrationChatGPT language model used for LeadAssistant AI feature that optimizes buyer inquiry messages. Data processing agreement in place per Article 28 GDPR.
• Iterable Ireland Ltd.majorTechnology or IntegrationCross-channel communication platform managing email, push notifications, SMS, and in-app messages for marketing campaigns and transactional communications.
• Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited (Clarity)majorTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Clarity service for behavioral analytics, heatmaps, and session recordings on the website. Also Bing Ads advertising.
• Adjust GmbHmajorTechnology or IntegrationMobile app analytics service for analyzing app usage, user behavior, and engagement. Certified according to ePrivacyseal European privacy standard.
• Santander Consumer Finance S.A.majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuto financing services integrated on the platform through software plugin and financial calculator. Includes firewall for security and user behavior analytics for the financing components. Also processes financial data for Smyle vehicle purchases.
• Eyeota Pte LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAudience analytics platform for targeted advertising. Data transfers to Singapore under standard contractual clauses per GDPR Article 46.
• ID5 Technology LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline identification service creating individual usage profiles for targeted advertising based on browser and device characteristics.
• LiveRamp SASminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline identity platform creating cross-device identifiers for personalized advertising and multi-platform marketing.
• LIFULL CONNECT S.L (Trovit)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerClassified ad aggregation platform and Trovit search engine collecting automotive listings from various sources. Tracking pixel integrated for usage analytics.
• Lotame Solutions Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline advertising service collecting user activity data through cookies for behavioral targeting and interest-based advertising.
• Mediarithmics SASminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCustomer Data Platform (CDP) for processing pseudonymized personal data, comparing device identifiers, and creating targeted advertising audiences.
• TikTok Technology LimitedmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTikTok Pixel and iOS/Android SDK for advertising evaluation, retargeting, custom audiences, and remarketing campaigns on the TikTok platform.
• zeotap Data GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline identification and targeted advertising platform for cross-device personalization using mobile device IDs, cookie IDs, and hashed email addresses.
• digitalAudience B.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline advertising network collecting user activity data for interest-based advertising through cookie and individual pseudonymous identifiers.
• Social Audience B.V. (digitalAudience)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline advertising service collecting and recording user activity information for behavioral targeting and personalized advertising.
• Amazon Web Services Inc. (Amazon Ads)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon advertising tag for usage-based advertising on the platform and third-party websites, including event data sharing and personalized ad targeting for Amazon users.
• AXA InsuranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuto insurance provider for Smyle vehicle subscription services, handling provisional liability insurance and vehicle insurance coverage.
• AllianzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWarranty insurance provider for Smyle vehicle subscription services.
• KroschkeminorOthersVehicle delivery service partner for Smyle subscription services.
• DAD (vehicle registration)minorOthersThird-party service provider handling vehicle registration through registration authorities for Smyle subscription services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CarGurus: US-headquartered automotive marketplace expanding internationally; runs a comparable dealer subscription model with listing prominence, lead routing, and transparent pricing analytics. Closest publicly traded peer in business model and dealer-side value proposition.
• Mobile.de: Germany's largest online automotive marketplace and AutoScout24's closest direct competitor; now operated by Adevinta after the 2024 spin-off from eBay. Comparable two-sided marketplace model, professional dealer subscriptions, and premium listing tiers serving the same buyer/seller segments across overlapping DACH geographies.
• Coches.net: Spain's leading automotive classifieds site (Schibsted/Adevinta). Direct comparator to AutoScout24 Spain in dealer subscriptions, listing upgrades, and lead generation across the Iberian market.
• Marktplaats: Dutch classifieds platform owned by Adevinta, with a strong automotive vertical and large private seller base in the Netherlands — directly comparable to AutoScout24's marketplace mechanics and target segments in Benelux.
• Auto Trader UK: UK's largest online automotive marketplace, operating a near-identical professional-dealer subscription and private-listing model with cross-country brand recognition. Highly comparable in monetization mechanics, content/SEO strategy, and dealer toolset despite different geography.
• LeBonCoin: France's leading classifieds site (Adevinta-controlled) with a material automotive vertical. Comparable to AutoScout24's French operations in terms of private/dealer supply, professional subscription tiers, and integrated financing partnerships.
• Subito.it: Italy's largest classifieds platform with a strong auto vertical. Direct comparable to AutoScout24 Italia in marketplace mechanics, free private listings, and professional dealer tools within the same geography.

Emerging players

• Carwow: UK-based online car-buying and lead-generation platform that connects buyers with dealers via a bidding/reverse-auction model. Compares on the dealer-side demand-generation layer and emerging EV/new-car aggregation opportunity.
• Auto1.com: Pan-European online used-car platform (publicly listed on Frankfurt) with a B2B-focused remarketing business and a consumer-facing brand. Compares on cross-border European used-car infrastructure and dealer network effects.

Broad incumbents

• Cars.com: US-listed automotive marketplace platform with a comparable dealer subscription model, OEM partnerships, and lead-generation tools. Broader portfolio (dealer software, research) makes it an incumbent comparable rather than a niche peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AutoScout24
• Instagraminstagram.com/autoscout24
• TikToktiktok.com/@autoscout24
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/car-project-strepy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 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 Car Project