Carsales launches Nexgate software for dealer teams

Carsales has launched Nexgate, a software platform for dealers and OEM retail teams, marking a broader push beyond its vehicle marketplace.

Developed in-house, the platform combines vehicle sourcing, inventory management, pricing and customer engagement in a single system. It also uses carsales' first-party market data and artificial intelligence to turn buyer signals into recommended actions within dealership workflows.

Nexgate is aimed at dealer groups and manufacturer retail operations that often work across multiple software tools, reports and logins. The system is designed to sit alongside existing dealership software rather than replace every tool already in use.

The launch highlights how automotive marketplace groups are trying to deepen their role in retail operations by moving further into the software dealers use each day. For carsales, that means shifting from a listings-led relationship with customers to a position inside the systems used to manage sales activity, stock decisions and customer contact.

Rafael Constantinou, EGM - Marketing, Content & Customer, carsales, outlined the thinking behind the new brand.

“We wanted a name that was memorable and distinctly ours. One that matches the transformation we've undertaken, while still feeling like carsales,” said Rafael Constantinou, EGM - Marketing, Content & Customer, carsales.

He said the brand was meant to reflect a more connected experience for different users of the company's products.

“Nexgate is a reflection of how we want all of our customers - dealers, OEM partners and consumers - to experience carsales: simpler, more connected, and created around the way they actually work. Consumer expectations keep rising, and this gives our partners the technology to meet them.”

Constantinou also pointed to the company's intention to keep expanding the software over time.

“For us, 'Next' is a commitment to keep moving, keep evolving and keep building beyond what was possible before. It's a proud moment and there's still a lot more to come.”

Dealer workflow

One of the platform's central selling points is time savings for dealership teams, which must manage large volumes of stock, pricing and customer data while responding quickly to changes in demand. By bringing several functions into one view, carsales aims to reduce the need for staff to switch between systems to identify sales opportunities or risks.

Craig Fraser, Chief Executive Officer, carsales, said the platform was designed to help retailers act more quickly on available information.

“Time is one of the most valuable resources in any dealership,” said Craig Fraser, Chief Executive Officer, carsales.

He said the challenge for many teams was not access to information, but the difficulty of using it quickly enough to support decisions.

“Teams have more information available to them than ever before, but turning that into confident decisions quickly isn't easy. Nexgate was built to help. It brings the insights and tools dealerships and OEMs rely on every day into one place, helping them see opportunities sooner and focus their time where it matters most. The goal isn't more information, it's knowing the next best move.”

Wider strategy

Every dealer partner will be able to explore the full Nexgate platform from launch, with additional functions to be added in stages.

That phased approach is common in software roll-outs for business customers, particularly where products must work with existing dealer management systems and operating processes. In this case, Nexgate is being positioned as a connected operating layer that links commercial decisions to audience and buyer data generated through the company's marketplace business.

Carsales argues that its scale in the automotive category gives the platform a data source dealerships cannot obtain elsewhere. That claim sits at the heart of the product's pitch: that marketplace traffic and buyer intent can inform practical actions on pricing, stock selection and customer engagement within retail businesses.

The move comes as dealers and manufacturers face pressure to manage inventory more tightly, respond faster to shifts in consumer demand and improve how they handle enquiries across online and showroom channels. Software providers in the sector have increasingly focused on integrating those tasks, while adding AI-based prompts and recommendations to help staff prioritise activity.

For carsales, Nexgate represents one of its clearest efforts to turn its market position and audience data into a software business embedded in dealership operations.