Cars once symbolized the very idea of freedom: the open road, an engine humming beneath the hood, and a world of possibilities beyond the driver's seat.
Yet in recent years, the bulk of innovation muscle has been training on making the American car more like a rolling computer -- the traditional four wheels and chassis topped with electronics and sensors, but burdened by opaque diagnostic processes, pricey repairs, and manufacturer lock-ins.
Irvine, Calif.-based startup SPARQ aims to change that, and in doing so, tackle the multi-billion-dollar automotive service industry on behalf of the more than 240 million licensed drivers across the U.S.
The company's flagship product, SPARQ Diagnostics, is a pocket-sized device that plugs into the on-board diagnostic (OBD II) port on most cars on the road today (model year 2010 and newer; soon to be 1996 and newer, according to the company) and uses AI to decode, predict, and simplify vehicle maintenance and service in real time - allowing drivers to literally talk to their cars for the first time.
Launched in late 2024 and debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show (where the company served as the official AI partner), SPARQ Diagnostics is designed to be the on-demand, in-car mechanic drivers always wanted. By marrying robust vehicle data scanning with AI that speaks everyday language, the company aims to give drivers control over their cars again, while fostering a new era of transparency in an often-misunderstood market.
Rethinking a staid, billion-dollar industry
If there were a poster-child of vehicle villainy, it may be the dreaded check-engine light - the car equivalent of a spinning circle in a video game or software program. Information is limited, and anxiety inevitably spikes when drivers are unsure if a quick fix could balloon into a costly ordeal. With the vehicles on the road the oldest they've ever been (13 years, on average) and car repairs costing more than ever before (the cost of ownership averages more than $1,000 per month), SPARQ co-founders Daniel Nieh and Codrin Cobzaru knew there had to be a simpler, more transparent way for people to manage their second-largest purchase.
Their solution, which is more than two years in the making, offers professional-grade data extraction comparable to that of a service center, minus the recurring subscription fees of other consumer-available diagnostic devices.
Meet your AI mechanic
It's one thing to read cryptic service codes. It's another to understand and act on them. The team at SPARQ built its offering around AI that interprets raw vehicle data and distills it down into an easy-to-read "conversation." Drivers can ask questions using voice, text, images, or even sound.
In recent demos of the technology, Cobzaru has shown use cases ranging from talking through the iPhone speaker to the SPARQ app ("Why is my check-engine light on?"), to image (snapping a photo of an unfamiliar dashboard icon and asking, "What does this mean?") to sound (recording a short clip of the engine's rattling and say, "Why is my car making this noise?").
Behind the scenes, SPARQ says its AI instantly sifts through a database of more than 50,000 vehicle codes, plus a growing bank of real-world user experiences like other AI applications in parallel consumer spaces. It then translates that data into actionable advice, from a notification to rotate tires before a road trip or a heads-up on a common repair that's overdue based on the driver's habits.
From repair history to "timelapse"
SPARQ plans to also address a bigger problem facing many drivers: scattered, incomplete service records and piles of forgotten paperwork stashed in gloveboxes and filing cabinets.
In the coming weeks, SPARQ says its "Timelapse" feature will merge past repairs, recalls, upcoming maintenance milestones and estimated costs into a chronological view. Drivers will see not only what needs fixing now, but also what's around the corner - an especially helpful tool in budgeting. Coupled with a feature called Glovebox, which digitally stores documents like insurance policies and your driver's license, Timelapse becomes a holistic command center for staying ahead of automotive upkeep.
Privacy and profit potential
As self-professed "car culture" enthusiasts themselves, SPARQ's co-founders have used public forums and company announcements to underscore what it calls an unwavering commitment to driver privacy. Unlike some connected car services, SPARQ co-founders say the company doesn't collect, retain or sell personal user data - not to insurance carriers, OEMs, third-party marketers or otherwise.
When AI becomes a trustworthy passenger
Nieh and Cobzaru say SPARQ's AI isn't meant to overshadow drivers' local mechanic shops, but rather to offer a different opinion that puts the driver more in control of the inevitable vehicle service, repair and upkeep. If a mechanic's quote raises eyebrows, SPARQ can confirm if certain items are necessary. Through geolocation and aggregated search results, it can even offer repair shop suggestions and help interpret feedback from past customer experiences.
For drivers, this means avoiding the stress of blind trust in potentially costly or unnecessary repairs that, more often than not, are not budgeted against other planned expenses.
Future outlook
While the automotive aftermarket has seen its share of "connected" technology and gadgetry, the industry largely remains fragmented, paper-heavy, and lacking consumer transparency. SPARQ aims to lead a new era by integrating AI into everyday driving and car care.
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