SOFICO acquires Vinli to strengthen AI capabilities in auto finance and leasing

SOFICO has acquired US-based automotive AI company Vinli as part of its strategy to expand the use of artificial intelligence within its automotive finance and leasing software platform.

The acquisition will see Vinli’s AI and connected vehicle data capabilities integrated with SOFICO’s Miles Enterprise contract management platform, which is used by automotive finance providers, leasing companies and captive finance organisations globally.

Vinli brings two core products to the business. Its Velona platform analyses operational data to identify actions that could improve financial performance through increased revenue or reduced costs, while its ERA platform gathers and processes connected vehicle data from multiple sources.

SOFICO said the combination of these technologies with Miles Enterprise will help customers make greater use of the operational, vehicle and contract data already available within their businesses.

Wim De Bruyne, CEO of SOFICO, said: “This acquisition is about accelerating something we have been building towards.

“Every automotive finance and leasing company is sitting on an enormous amount of untapped intelligence, including contract data, vehicle data, operational patterns, residual value signals and customer data. The data has always been there. What’s been missing is the layer that turns it into decisions.”

“Vinli gives us that layer, and we’re embedding it into the platform our customers already trust.”

Matt Himelfarb, CEO of Vinli, said the deal would allow the company’s technology to be deployed more widely across the automotive leasing sector.

“We built our company on a simple bet: that the data inside contracts and connected vehicles can rewrite the economics of mobility, but only if operational decisions are tied to financial outcomes,” he said.

The acquisition reflects growing interest across the automotive finance and leasing sector in applying AI to areas such as portfolio management, customer service, operational efficiency and vehicle lifecycle management.

SOFICO said the transaction forms part of its broader AI strategy, which focuses on using data and automation to support decision-making across the contract lifecycle and back-office operations.