On this episode of What the Prompt?, we sat down with Sanjay Varnwal, founder of Spyne AI, to pressure-test voice AI for dealerships. The results — 18% appointment conversion, $80K/week recovered revenue, and 4x better performance than human callers — are worth understanding, whether you're ready to deploy or just getting AI-curious.
Why We Did This Episode
Dealers keep asking me the same question: "Can AI really handle phone calls without sounding like a robot?"
Fair question. Most of the "AI" phone systems dealers have tried are glorified phone trees — clunky, frustrating, and guaranteed to make customers hang up.
But the tech has moved. Fast.
So on Episode #11 of What the Prompt?, I brought in Sanjay Varnwal, founder of Spyne AI, to pressure-test their voice agent platform, Vini. I wanted to know: does this actually work in a real dealership environment, or is it just another vendor demo that falls apart on the showroom floor?
Here's what we learned — and what it means for your operation.
The Problem We Were Exploring
Every dealer knows this pain: a customer calls, no one picks up, and by the next morning, they've bought somewhere else.
It's not a staffing problem. It's a physics problem. Your team can't answer every call, especially after hours, during busy Saturdays, or when the service drive is slammed.
Sanjay shared a stat that stopped me mid-conversation:
That's not a small leak. That's a structural failure in how most dealers handle inbound opportunity.
And here's the kicker — by the time your team follows up the next day, the customer has already moved on.
What Vini Actually Does
Vini is Spyne AI's voice agent platform built specifically for automotive. It handles inbound and outbound calls, follows up with internet leads, books service and sales appointments, and integrates with your CRM — all through natural, human-sounding conversations.
The key difference from old-school IVR systems: Vini doesn't just route calls. It has the conversation. It can answer inventory questions, handle objections, gather customer information, and transfer to a human when needed.
During our episode, we ran a live demo. Vini handled an inbound call, gathered specs for a 2022 Honda Accord, discussed remote purchase options, and connected the caller with finance — seamlessly, in real time.
If I hadn't told you it was AI, you'd think you were talking to a solid BDC rep.
The Numbers Sanjay Shared
I'm always skeptical of vendor stats, so I pushed Sanjay on the specifics. Here's what he walked us through:
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Inbound leads converted to appointments | 18% |
| Weekly recovered revenue (one dealer example) | $80,000 |
| Outbound campaign connect rate | 39% (vs. 10% human average) |
| Recall campaign appointment conversion | 20% |
| Performance vs. human callers | 4x better |
| Online lead response time | Under 60 seconds |
The outbound numbers surprised me most. A 39% connect rate on outbound calls is almost unheard of. Sanjay explained it comes down to consistency and timing optimization — AI doesn't get tired, doesn't skip leads on Friday afternoon, and calls when customers are most likely to answer.
The "Will AI Replace My Team?" Question
This came up in our conversation, and I want to address it directly because I hear it from dealers constantly.
Short answer: No.
Vini isn't a replacement for your people. It's a force multiplier. It handles the high-volume, repetitive work so your closers can focus on what humans do best — building relationships and closing deals.
Think about your current process: your sales rep tries to connect with leads by phone, text, and email, but the floor gets busy. Walk-ins take priority. Leads fall through the cracks.
Vini handles the systematic outreach — initiating calls, texts, and emails on schedule, reattempting as needed, nurturing leads until they're ready for a human closer.
The way I see it: AI handles the volume. Your people handle the relationship. That's the split that makes sense.
Outbound Campaigns: 4x Better Than Human Callers
Voice AI isn't just about answering inbound calls. Vini powers outbound campaigns — recalls, lease expirations, service reminders — at performance levels human teams can't match.
The numbers:
- 20% appointment conversion on recall campaigns
- 39% connect rate on outbound calls
- 4x better than human callers (who typically hit 10% connect rates)
Why the gap? Consistency.
Vini optimizes call timing (often right after office hours when customers are available), follows every step of the process, and never skips a lead because it's Friday afternoon.
Why Vini Doesn't Sound Like a Robot
This was a big topic in our conversation. Most AI phone systems sound terrible — stilted, unnatural, obviously automated. Customers hang up.
Sanjay explained that Vini is trained on millions of actual dealer-customer calls. It learns how real people pace their speech, handle objections, and respond to complex questions.
But here's the part that surprised me: they intentionally add imperfections.
Slight pauses. Hesitations. Subtle fumbles. The things that make a conversation feel real instead of scripted.
It's a small detail, but it's the difference between a customer engaging and a customer hanging up.
My Takeaway: Where Voice AI Fits
After this conversation, here's my honest assessment:
Voice AI is ready for production. This isn't experimental tech or a cool demo that falls apart in real conditions. Dealers are using it today and seeing measurable ROI.
It's not for every dealership right now. If your phones are already fully staffed 24/7 and you're connecting with 100% of leads within 60 seconds, you probably don't need this. (But let's be honest — that's almost no one.)
The biggest opportunity is after-hours and overflow. Those missed calls and overnight form submissions that sit in voicemail until 9am? That's where voice AI delivers immediate value.
Start with the leaks before you expand. Don't try to boil the ocean. Plug the biggest holes first — missed calls, unconnected internet leads — then expand into outbound campaigns once you've seen the results.
Why Now? The Early Adopter Advantage
The dealers who adopt AI now won't just keep pace — they'll outstrip competitors in revenue, efficiency, and customer experience.
This isn't about chasing hype. Voice AI is production-ready, dealer-tested, and delivering measurable ROI today.
Is Your Dealership Ready for Voice AI?
Here's the thing — voice AI isn't right for every store at every stage.
Before you deploy any AI tool, you need to understand where it fits in your current tech stack, what problems it actually solves, and whether your team is ready to integrate it.
That's exactly why we built the AI Readiness Audit.
It's a free assessment where we look at your current operations — CRM, lead handling, phone systems, service scheduling — and tell you exactly where AI can help and where it can't. No pitch. Just clarity.
Want to Test Voice AI at Your Store?
If you're ready to move beyond research and actually pilot voice AI in your dealership, we have two paths:
1. Apply for the AI Pilot Connector Through Automotive Intelligence, we're connecting dealers with vetted AI solutions — including voice AI — for structured pilot programs. You get hands-on support, clear success metrics, and a real evaluation period before committing.
Apply for the AI Pilot Program →
2. Request a Demo from Spyne AI Directly Want to see Vini handle a live call? Sanjay and his team offer demos where you can hear the technology in action and discuss fit for your specific operation.
Listen to the Full Episode
This blog captures the highlights, but we went much deeper in the actual conversation — including a live demo, objection handling, implementation strategy, and Sanjay's vision for where voice AI is headed.
Listen to What the Prompt? Episode #16 →
Why We Do This
What the Prompt? exists for one reason: to cut through the noise and give dealers a real look at what's working in AI right now.
I'm not here to sell you software. I'm here to translate the AI landscape into language that makes sense for car people — and to pressure-test the tools that vendors are pitching you.
Some of what I see is hype. Some of it is real. The only way to know the difference is to dig in, ask hard questions, and share what I learn.
That's the show. That's Automotive Intelligence.
If you're trying to figure out where AI fits in your operation, I'm happy to talk. No pitch, just straight answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vini AI? Vini is a voice agent platform from Spyne AI built specifically for automotive dealerships. It handles inbound and outbound phone calls, follows up with internet leads, books appointments, and integrates with your CRM through natural, human-sounding conversations.
How is this different from an IVR or phone tree? Traditional IVR systems route calls. Vini actually has the conversation — answering questions, handling objections, gathering customer information, and booking appointments without human intervention.
Will voice AI replace my BDC team? No. Voice AI handles high-volume, repetitive outreach so your team can focus on closing deals and building relationships. It's a force multiplier, not a replacement.
What results can dealerships expect? Based on data shared by Spyne AI: 18% appointment conversion on inbound leads, 39% connect rates on outbound campaigns (4x better than human average), and recovered revenue averaging $80K/week at some dealerships.
How do I know if my dealership is ready for voice AI? Start with an AI Readiness Audit. We'll assess your current tech stack, lead handling process, and identify exactly where AI fits — and where it doesn't.
How do I get started? Three options: (1) Take our free AI Readiness Audit, (2) Apply for the AI Pilot Connector to test voice AI with hands-on support, or (3) Request a demo directly from Spyne AI.
This article is based on Episode #11 of What the Prompt?, "How Vini Saves Missed Calls & Lost Deals in Automotive," featuring Sanjay Varnwal, founder of Spyne AI.
What the Prompt? is produced by Automotive Intelligence — where AI isn't just discussed, it's pressure-tested in real dealer environments.
About the Author
Michael Rodriguez is the founder of Automotive Intelligence and host of the What the Prompt? podcast. He holds an MIT certification in AI and machine learning and currently works as a salesperson at a dealership — giving him firsthand perspective on how AI tools actually perform on the showroom floor. His mission: to be the AI translator for car people.
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