Carvana, an industry pioneer for buying and selling used cars online, announced a first-of-its-kind integrated brand partnership with basketball Hall of Famer, entrepreneur, and cultural icon Shaquille O’Neal, launching with the debut of the world’s first AI-powered Shaqbot.
Designed to make car shopping simpler, easier, and more fun, Shaqbot brings Shaq’s signature voice, wit, and personality into Carvana’s digital experience. The AI-powered assistant is built using real voice recordings and custom Shaq-approved response logic to help customers browse inventory, answer common questions, and make their online car-buying journey just a little more entertaining.
“I’ve been buying and selling cars for years, and when I found Carvana, I really loved the ease and innovation of the brand. That’s what makes my partnership with Carvana so exciting,” said Shaquille O’Neal. “And now for other Carvana fans, they can have a little fun with Shaqbot, an assistant as smart, smooth, and good-looking as me.”
The Shaqbot is part of a broader collaboration between Carvana and O’Neal that includes curated vehicle selections, custom brand content, and a campaign hub at Shaqvana.com, all designed to amplify the best of Carvana’s platform, with Shaq’s personality layered in.
The campaign rolls out a national ad push—broadcast and digital spots featuring O’Neal showing how Carvana can get “Shaqified”—backed by a dedicated micro-site at Shaqvana.com where customers can browse Shaq-approved rides, explore campaign content, and interact with “Shaqbot.” That AI assistant uses advanced logic and text-to-speech to guide, assist, and entertain in Shaq’s voice, while a “Shaq Filter” lets shoppers search for vehicles tuned to his favorite specs like roomy interiors, high horsepower, and sunroofs.
“Shaq is a great ambassador for Carvana – he brings the perfect mix of big personality, big heart, and big ideas,” said Ryan Keeton, Carvana Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer. “He’s not just in the ads; he’s in the experience. The Shaqbot is one of the most unique things we’ve ever built, and it shows what’s possible when you combine technology, creativity, and fun.”
This marks the first time Carvana has embedded a celebrity voice, persona, and preferences directly into its customer experience. Explore the full experience at Shaqvana.com and follow @Carvana on social media for more Shaq-powered surprises, including one coming this Haulerdays.
