CarDekho Acquires Virtual Reality Startup Volob Technologies
GirnarSoft, the parent company of India’s top auto portals CarDekho.com, Gaadi.com and Zigwheels.com, has acquired Volob Technologies, a virtual reality startup in an all-cash deal. The acquisition will augment CarDekho.com’s 3D visualisation capabilities through technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality.
Founded in 2010 by Tarun Kumar and Shweta Jain, Volob Technologies provides 3D visualisation solutions to various industries, primarily automotive. The startup has serviced marquee brands like Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Godrej, Greenply and Somany Ceramics.
Speaking on the acquisition, Amit Jain, co-founder and CEO, CarDekho.com, said, “Visual experience is an important element in assessing a car or bike. Volob has proven expertise in the virtual content. CarDekho.com’s acquisition of Volob is aimed at amplifying the visual experience of car buyers in both real and virtual settings. GirnarSoft has enriched its value proposition for online buyers, dealers and OEMs.”
Tarun Kumar, added, “Volob blends creativity and engineering to create 3D visualization in real-time. Joining CarDekho.com will help us provide solutions which can enable automotive industry deliver life-like experiences to car buyers across multiple touchpoints.”
CarDekho.com has been working on developing virtual and augmented reality solutions to help users make better car buying decisions. It recently launched ‘Feel the Car,’ an online tool that gives 360 degree interior/exterior views with sounds of the car and explanations of features with videos.
The company had previously acquired Drishya360s, a premier photography and video production firm to develop its virtual reality framework.
Volob is GirnarSoft’s eighth deal in the last two years. Earlier it made a strategic investment in Advanced Structures India. It has acquired Connecto, Help on Wheels, Zigwheels.com, Gaadi.com and BuyingIQ. The company has also incubated and invested in CollegeDekho.com.
