TalkToToyota

Inspiration

My family is actually trying to buy a new car as we speak so it kind of worked perfectly that I chose the Toyota track. We have already been looking at cars so I already had done some research before!

What it does

TalkToToyota is an AI-powered web app that helps users find their ideal Toyota vehicle through natural voice conversations. Users simply describe what they’re looking for — like “I want a fuel-efficient SUV under $35,000” — and the AI instantly recommends three vehicles with pros, cons, and estimated financing costs. The app also lets users compare cars side-by-side and visualize payment and performance data in a clean, interactive UI.

How we built it

We built the frontend using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Framer Motion for smooth, modern visuals. The conversational AI uses OpenAI’s API for natural language understanding and ElevenLabs for realistic voice input and output. Vehicle data comes from a combination of Toyota’s public datasets and the CarMD / Edmunds APIs for real-world specs and pricing. The backend is powered by Node.js with a Supabase database for storing user preferences and search history.

Challenges we ran into

Integrating voice input and output seamlessly with AI responses. Finding a comprehensive and reliable car data API. Ensuring AI recommendations felt accurate and context-aware for various user prompts. Balancing performance and design to keep the UI responsive despite multiple API calls.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Creating a fully functional voice-driven car discovery experience in less than 24 hours. Building an AI model that gives personalized recommendations using real data. Designing a smooth, interactive comparison dashboard that feels modern and intuitive. Making car shopping genuinely fun and conversational

What we learned

How to combine AI voice interfaces with structured backend data for real-time personalization. Best practices for connecting multiple APIs efficiently. The importance of user experience and conversational flow when designing AI-driven tools.

What's next for TalkToToyota

Integrate real Toyota financial APIs for live financing and leasing quotes. Expand AI to support multi-turn conversations (“Actually, make it hybrid instead”). Add image-based search where users can upload a car photo to find similar Toyota models. Deploy a mobile-friendly version for on-the-go car discovery

Built With

• carmd-api
• control:
• edmunds-vehicle-api-cloud-&-deployment:-vercel-(frontend/backend)
• elevenlabs-(voice-input/output)-apis-&-data:-toyota-open-data
• framer-motion-backend:-node.js-(express)-/-next.js-api-routes-database:-supabase-ai-&-voice:-openai-api-(gpt-for-car-recommendations)
• frontend:-next.js
• shadcn/ui
• supabase
• tailwind-css
• version