Meet the startup that’s helping Filipinos find the best car deals

Car companies in the Philippines collectively grew sales by 30 percent in 2014, making the country the second-fastest growing automotive market in the world. Much of this growth can be attributed to growing per capita earnings and aggressive car financing strategies deployed by automakers and financial institutions.

But let’s not forget one more driving force behind this: websites that are bridging consumers and car brands. One such startup in this space is AutoDeal.

A shopping helper

When it comes to buying a new car, price is a sticky point. Because it’s a big investment, consumers are naturally after value for money. This is where AutoDeal comes in. It helps buyers compare vehicles and find promotions to ensure they get the best deal.

The startup had a very quiet launch in April 2014 and spent most of last year building up its client base. To date, it has provided more than 10,000 leads that translated to sales in multiple segments of the automotive industry.

The startup’s traction is the work of the experienced team running it. AutoDeal co-founders Daniel Scott and Christopher Franks are the same brains behind PinoyAutoTrader, a classifieds site for both new and used cars that they sold to OLX (formerly Sulit.com.ph) in early 2013. The duo has a strong background in marketing and developing lead-based platforms, as well as experience from working alongside the automotive industry over the last four years.

At PinoyAutoTrader, Franks says they noticed massive untapped potential in terms of digital marketing in the new car industry. “While there is a very active community of print and online media publications, there was no real consumer-based platform to assist in the shopping process. Buying a car is obviously a significant financial commitment and there was a notable absence of platforms to assist the consumer especially when it came to conducting research and getting information about financing plans and limited time promos.”

There was an obvious void to fill. So when Scott and Franks went back to the drawing table for their new venture, they decided this was the market need they wanted to help address.

And address it they did. Unlike conventional classifieds sites, AutoDeal isn’t just about listings. It helps users at numerous stages, says the team – it facilitates the communication between consumers and sales agents, and consumers can find heavily researched content on its site, including vehicle comparisons and buying tips. Plus, car brands and dealerships can access in-depth marketing data reports giving insights on consumer trends.

But ultimately, Franks says their focus is to help consumers make informed decisions. “I think the Philippine car buyer is very value-driven. Based on the data that we’ve retrieved over the course of 2014, users in the younger consumer groups are often comparing several vehicles and quotations from different car brands ahead of making a purchase. This data suggests that Filipinos are looking to see where they can get the best value proposition not only on product price, but also on things like running costs and fuel economy.”

Branching out

AutoDeal made big strides in the past year, Scott and Franks claim, so they’re branching out into other industries.

The duo announced recently that the startup’s holding company, SirQo Group, will launch some new sites. “The immense popularity of AutoDeal among our users has boosted investor confidence, and we are now exploring other possible industries, which include property and the job market.”