CarMax partners with Sierra to deploy AI voice agents for inbound calls
CarMax partners with Sierra to deploy AI voice agents for inbound calls, improving resolution rates and reducing unresolved queries. The system handles routine inquiries, allowing associates to focus on complex decisions. Future updates will include appointment management for appraisals and test drives.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, has partnered with Sierra to deploy advanced AI voice-enabled agents for its inbound sales calls. Launched in May 2026, the initiative aims to ensure customers reach the right destination or speak with an associate faster and more consistently, regardless of call volume, time, or time zone. The deployment has already yielded measurable operational improvements, including an increase in call resolution rates and a decline in the rate of unresolved calls.
The Sierra agents utilize conversational and clarifying questions to better understand customer needs. This technology provides quick answers to common inquiries, such as store hours and vehicle availability, and facilitates smoother transitions to human CarMax associates when necessary. Shamim Mohammad, CarMax Chief Information and Technology Officer, stated that the partnership ensures frequent customer questions are answered consistently and on demand. This automation frees associates to provide knowledgeable guidance through bigger decisions in the car shopping journey.
Operational Impact and Future Capabilities
Since its launch, the AI-driven system has demonstrated immediate value in streamlining customer interactions. By handling routine queries, the agents reduce wait times and eliminate the need for customers to repeat themselves during transfers. CarMax is now working to add further capabilities to the platform, including appointment management for tasks such as scheduling appraisals, browsing vehicles, and arranging test drives.
Bret Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of Sierra, highlighted the mutual benefit of the partnership. He noted that the AI agent removes the need for customers to wait on hold or be transferred between departments. For associates, this means less time answering simple questions and more time helping customers find the right car. Taylor described CarMax as a pioneer in applied AI, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project.
Strategic Context
This announcement underscores CarMax’s continued commitment to making car buying and selling clearer and easier through innovative technology. CarMax has been leveraging AI for years, maintaining its own 24/7 virtual assistant, Skye, on CarMax.com. Additionally, the company was the first U.S. auto retailer to feature an app in the ChatGPT app store that supports car shopping.
Sierra is a platform that helps businesses build better, more human customer experiences with AI. It enables companies to deploy customer-facing AI agents that communicate in natural language, solve complex problems, and personalize every interaction across any channel. Sierra works with 40% of the Fortune 50 and one in three of the world’s leading banks. Other leading brands partnering with Sierra include The Gap, Rocket Mortgage, SoFi, Sutter Health, and Wayfair.
What the Numbers Show
While specific financial metrics for the AI deployment were not disclosed, the operational data indicates a clear shift in efficiency. The reduction in unresolved calls suggests that the AI is effectively capturing intent and resolving issues that previously required human intervention or led to abandonment. This aligns with CarMax’s broader strategy of using technology to enhance customer satisfaction and associate productivity. The company sold approximately 780,000 used vehicles and 540,000 wholesale vehicles during fiscal year 2026, which ended February 28, 2026. CarMax Auto Finance originated $8 billion in auto loans during fiscal 2026, adding to its $16 billion portfolio.
How might the expansion of AI capabilities to appointment management and test drive scheduling impact CarMax's conversion rates from inquiry to sale?
What are the potential long-term implications for CarMax's workforce structure and associate training programs as routine inquiries are increasingly automated?
Could Sierra's success with CarMax accelerate the adoption of similar AI voice agents across other sectors of the automotive industry, such as new car dealerships or service centers?































