Hyundai certifies Impel Chat AI for dealer program

Hyundai Motor America has certified Impel’s Chat AI for the Hyundai Dealer Marketing Program, giving more than 830 U.S. dealers access to conversational AI for sales and service. The move expands a long-running partnership and is designed to boost engagement, conversion and appointment-setting across dealer digital channels.

Why it matters: - Hyundai dealers now have access to enterprise-grade conversational AI across sales and service touchpoints. - The certification extends an existing Hyundai-Impel relationship and broadens the tools available inside the Hyundai Digital Marketing Program. - Impel says dealers using Chat AI with Conversation Connect have seen a 55% increase in total chat volume, a 33% increase in customers sharing contact information, and a 20% increase in AI-set appointments.

What happened: - Hyundai Motor America certified Impel’s Chat AI for the Hyundai Dealer Marketing Program. - The certification makes Chat AI available to more than 830 Hyundai dealers nationwide. - The announcement was made Sept. 9, 2026. - Impel already serves as a certified digital merchandising provider for Hyundai dealers, with 360 WalkArounds, Feature Tour, Video Tour, AI Image Enhancement and Damage Tagging on vehicle detail pages.

The details: - The HDMP certification covers all participating U.S. Hyundai retailers. - Chat AI is designed to handle VIN-specific vehicle questions, trade-in and financing inquiries, and scheduling for sales and service appointments. - Conversation Connect extends the AI experience across social pages, digital ads, email, listing sites and vehicle detail pages. - Impel says the system replaces static call-to-action buttons with context-aware dialogue that responds to shopper intent in real time. - Every interaction runs through Impel’s AI Agent Knowledge Bank to keep responses accurate, compliant and aligned with Hyundai and dealer policies. - Impel says the platform helps move shoppers from discovery to booked appointment, inquiry or purchase. - O’Brien Hyundai of Normal Marketing Director Paul Hepp said the system helps the store get more from existing traffic without adding staff. - Hepp said Chat AI supports both sales and service appointments and lets the dealership engage shoppers across VDPs, ads, social media and email. - Hepp also said the dealership has used Impel’s digital merchandising for years and sees measurable return from the combination.

Between the lines: - Hyundai is signaling that conversational AI is becoming a core retail tool, not just a digital add-on. - The certification also suggests OEMs are looking for consistent, brand-compliant customer experiences across dealers rather than one-off point solutions. - Impel is positioning its platform as a broader AI operating system for automotive retail, not only a chat product.

What's next: - More Hyundai retailers can now deploy Chat AI through the Hyundai Digital Marketing Program. - Impel is likely to use the certification to deepen adoption across sales and service workflows and to expand its role inside OEM programs. - The company says its broader AI platform already serves more than 8,000 retailers and OEMs across 51 countries. - Impel says it has delivered 42 billion shopper interactions and influenced more than $12 billion in sales and service revenue to date. - More information is available on Impel’s website.