Vikram Chopra, the visionary co-founder and CEO of India's prominent used-car startup Cars24, is spearheading a radical transformation of his enterprise, placing artificial intelligence at its core. Chopra asserts that this deep integration of AI has allowed him to reclaim a remarkable 50% of his personal work time, enabling him to focus on strategic growth and new ventures.
AI-Powered Efficiency and Strategic Shifts
Chopra's personal workflow is heavily augmented by AI. He utilizes an AI note-taking device to record all conversations, feeding this data along with emails, WhatsApp, Slack, LinkedIn messages, and podcast interactions into what he calls his "second brain." This comprehensive data pool, powered by tools like OpenAI’s Codex and Claude Code, helps him manage information and tasks more efficiently. "What am I doing on my own computer that my agent can’t do it for me?" Chopra queries, highlighting his commitment to delegating routine tasks to AI.
The impact of this AI-first approach extends across Cars24's operations. For instance, customer relations in the typically long three-month used-car buying cycle are now supported by virtual AI assistants, a solution that addresses unit economics challenges. While acknowledging that human judgment remains crucial for vehicle assessment, AI is taking on significant customer-facing roles.
Launching Deployment Inc. and Future Plans
Beyond Cars24, Chopra has launched Deployment Inc., a new AI consulting venture. With an investment of Rs 50 crore and plans to hire 50 employees, Deployment Inc. aims to assist other businesses in becoming "AI-native." Cars24 itself is already investing heavily in AI, spending Rs 5 crore monthly on AI token usage, with intentions to increase this expenditure further.
The strategic pivot to AI has even influenced Cars24's corporate timeline. Chopra revealed that the company delayed its initial public offering (IPO) plans after encountering advanced AI models that demonstrated the technology's functional power beyond mere novelty. He stated, "I decided that if I don’t crack AI, nothing else will matter in the long term."
Re-entering Markets and Leadership Changes
A notable outcome of Cars24's enhanced AI capabilities is the planned re-entry into the used two-wheeler business. This segment was previously shut down due to smaller ticket sizes and bandwidth limitations, but AI is now expected to make it viable again. AI also streamlines internal processes, such as handling employee salary hike requests, by rapidly retrieving relevant HR data.
Chopra's intense focus on AI has also coincided with leadership changes. Earlier this year, co-founders Mehul Agrawal and Gajendra Jangid stepped down from their roles as COO and CMO, respectively. Chopra likened the situation to hikers choosing different paths on a mountain, suggesting a divergence in strategic vision as Cars24 charts its AI-driven future.