Swirl in the News: Fox News, CBT News, and the End of the Chatbot Era
This was a week I won't forget. Four things happened that we didn't plan, didn't pitch for, and didn't pay for. In the span of seven days, Swirl was featured across four major industry platforms. All earned. Here's what happened, and why it matters for every dealer group in the US.
Brian Moody on Fox News: "Completely useless, those chatbots"
It started with a simple question on Fox News. During "The Pulse" segment on automotive industry trends, the host asked Brian Moody, a veteran automotive journalist and former Executive Editor at Cox Automotive, whether AI can actually help someone buy a car.
Brian didn't sugarcoat the current state of dealer AI:
We've all been to those websites where it has that horrible chatbot. You ask it whatever question, and the next thing it says is "Can I get your phone number?" Useless. Completely useless, those chatbots.
Brian Moody, former Executive Editor, Cox Automotive — on Fox News
Then he pulled up Swirl.
There's a company called Swirl, and they have AI dealer technology. This is different. It asks you the right questions. It nudges you toward a car that might be best for you. It compares cars, and when you settle on one, a salesperson already knows the three cars you've been looking at.
Brian Moody, on Fox News
Then he said something that captures the entire thesis behind what we've built: "It's an AI solution that can sell."
CBT News publishes the BYD case study
CBT News, one of the most trusted automotive trade publications in the US, published our full BYD case study this week.
Same website traffic. Same ad spend. The only thing that changed was what happened when a buyer landed on the website.
For the first time, these results are on the public record. Not in a pitch deck. In a third-party publication that dealers read and trust.
For the full breakdown of how the deployment worked, read our BYD AI Sales Agent case study.
Brian Pasch: "Rising Star to Watch"
At DMSC, one of the premier US automotive digital marketing conferences, Brian Pasch called Swirl a "Rising Star to Watch" in front of his 15,000+ LinkedIn followers. Brian is widely regarded as the most respected voice in automotive retail technology. His endorsement carries weight that no ad budget can buy.
Swirl was the marquee AI sponsor at DMSC, presenting on the mainstage to an audience of dealer principals, GMs, and digital leaders from across the country.
Brian Moody covers Swirl on his platform
Brian Moody also wrote about Swirl on his own platform, reinforcing the same message to his audience of dealers, OEMs, and industry insiders. From someone who has spent over a decade evaluating every tool in this industry, that kind of repeated endorsement speaks volumes.
What this signals
Every dealer in America has some version of AI on their website today. A chat widget that pops up, asks "How can I help you?", collects a phone number, and calls it a lead. The industry has accepted this as normal.
It's not normal. It's broken. And the people who know this industry best are now saying it publicly.
What dealers actually need is an AI that sells the car. Swirl is a Visual AI where customers can watch videos and reviews, compare cars side by side, configure in 3D, run real financing options, and book a test drive. All in one interface. Autonomously. 24/7.
BYD deployed Swirl and saw 5x more leads from website to showroom, 13% test-drive conversion against a 2.5% industry baseline, and $10M in incremental sales in 90 days.
The chatbot era is over. The Visual AI that sells the car is here.
— Kaizad Hansotia, Founder and CEO, Swirl
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swirl AI?
Swirl is a Visual AI sales agent for automotive dealer websites. Customers can watch videos and reviews, compare cars, configure in 3D, run financing, and book test drives, all in one interface.
What results has Swirl achieved?
BYD deployed Swirl and saw 5X more leads from website to showroom, 13% test-drive conversion against a 2.5% industry baseline, and $10M in incremental sales in 90 days.
Has Swirl been featured in the media?
Swirl has been featured on Fox News, published by CBT News, and endorsed by Brian Pasch (Pasch Group) and Brian Moody (former Executive Editor, Cox Automotive).
How is Swirl different from chatbots?
Traditional chatbots collect phone numbers. Swirl actually sells the car through a visual experience with videos, reviews, 3D configuration, financing, and test-drive booking, all in one interface.
