What started as a spreadsheet and a list of phone numbers has grown into something the used vehicle market in India has needed for years – a simple, reliable way to find the right vehicle, close to home.
It all started with a simple yet persistent frustration. Customers looking to buy a used truck, bus, or pickup in Gujarat would often contact a dealership in Ahmedabad, only to discover that the vehicle they were looking for was not available anywhere near them. Travelling 200 to 300 kilometres for a deal that might not even materialize was simply not practical. Yet, there was no easy way to discover what vehicles were available locally.
This recurring problem, experienced firsthand through the family’s used commercial vehicle finance and dealership business, became the inspiration behind JuniGadi. Founded by Mr. Utkarsh Kankaria, Founder & Director of JuniGadi, the platform was created to connect buyers and sellers of used commercial vehicles across Gujarat. Interestingly, the company’s name reflects its purpose, as “JuniGadi” means “old vehicle” in Gujarati.
For Mr. Kankaria, the early days were far from glamorous. Along with the company’s Directors, Mr. Pradeep Kankaria and Ms. Vinita Kankaria, he started with nothing more than spreadsheets, Excel files, no technical background, and no clear roadmap. Learning along the way, they first built a website and later developed a mobile application. Customer feedback became the driving force behind the platform’s evolution. Buyers repeatedly asked why they had to call every time instead of being able to search for vehicles themselves. In response, the team built the tools to make that possible. The Android version of the JuniGadi app was launched first, followed by the iOS version within a year.
To build the initial database, the team personally reached out to every contact they had accumulated over the years through their family business. Over the course of one to two months, they contacted each customer to understand whether they were looking to buy, sell, or exchange a vehicle. Those conversations revealed a significant opportunity: thousands of vehicles were available for sale, while thousands of channel partners were actively looking to buy, sell, or exchange vehicles. This database became the foundation on which JuniGadi was built.
Today, the platform lists vehicles across every category, including three-wheelers, cars, pickups, light and heavy commercial vehicles, buses, tractors, and construction equipment. In the past year alone, approximately 20,000 vehicles were listed on the platform, with around 15,000 vehicles successfully sold, as JuniGadi enabled these transactions by providing visibility, qualified leads, and a digital marketplace for buyers and sellers.
According to Mr. Kankaria, the company’s business model operates on two fronts. Explaining the platform, he said, “There are separate apps for dealers and end customers – a B2B platform that enables dealerships to list and manage their inventory, and a B2C app that allows buyers to sell their vehicle or search for vehicles and connect directly with sellers.”
The Way Forward
Looking ahead, the company’s next phase focuses on building partnerships with new vehicle dealerships. When customers visit a dealership to purchase a new vehicle and wish to exchange their old one, JuniGadi steps in by evaluating the used vehicle, providing a competitive offer within a day, and managing the entire pickup and payment process, Mr. Kankaria explained.
Geographically, JuniGadi is currently focused on Gujarat, with expansion plans already underway for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Delhi NCR. Beyond business growth, the company is driven by its long-term vision of “Har Ghar Gadi by 2047,” aligning its mission with the Government of India’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
