Culture isn’t Declared, it’s Lived: 7 Core CARS24 Values in Action
Read this if you want to grow, thrive, and leave a mark at CARS24.
Let’s be real: most company values sound like something printed on a mug.
Vague. Polished. Wildly forgettable.
But at CARS24?
They’re not tucked away in a deck: they show up in how we act, decide, disagree, and deliver.
Here, values are as real as a contact sport. They show up in how Autonauts (that’s what we call ourselves) work, how we lead, how we speak up with each other, and even how we log off.
While I’ve spent over 3 years at CARS24, these 7 values — though only formally articulated last year — have been in our DNA long before they were named. I’ve seen them show up not just in townhalls or training decks, but lived out loud: in feedback loops and floor conversations, in how we approach and treat our customers and vendors, in how we debate, decide, and deliver every single day, and even in our escalations and respectful exits.
Without further ado, here is the real-world field guide to our 7 core values — TakeAction, SparkLove, FeelAccountable, RaiseStandards, RemainPassionate, BeAmbitious and PractiseHumility — and how to spot them, embody them, and apply them to grow like crazy.
1. #TakeAction
“You don't need a title to drive impact.”
Spot it: Someone jumps in to fix an issue without waiting for “alignment.”
Embody it: If it’s broken, start fixing it. If it’s unclear, start defining it.
Power move: Create before you’re asked. And then ask for feedback, not permission.
2. #SparkLove
“We don’t do ‘transactions’. We do trust.”
Spot it: A CX rep goes out of their way to resolve a customer issue beyond working hours.
Embody it: Treat every interaction — with a teammate, partner, or customer — like it’ll define how they remember us.
Power move: Leave people feeling better after a call with you. That’s the KPI no one measures but everyone remembers.
3. #FeelAccountable
“Own the outcome, even when it sucks.”
Spot it: Someone misses a deadline and opens the next stand-up with “I dropped the ball, here’s what I’m doing to fix it.”
Embody it: Don’t ghost your mistakes. Drag them into the light, fix them fast, and move forward.
Power move: Say “I got this” — and mean it.
4. #RaiseStandards
“The goal isn’t to finish fast. It’s to finish proud.”
Spot it: That teammate — in Tech/Business/Product — who stayed back to rework a buggy auction flow, fine-tune pricing logic, or simplify a feature that confused users. Not for applause. Just because “this won’t land right the way it is.”
Embody it: Don’t settle at 70%. Challenge each other with care. Every detail matters — the logic in your code, the clarity in your documents, the tone in your emails.
Power move: Ask the ‘stupid’ question in the meeting. You’ll often be the smartest one in the room.
5. #RemainPassionate
“If it feels like just a job, something’s broken.”
Spot it: The teammate who lights up when talking about a product idea — even after 3 reviews and 12 edits.
Embody it: Remind yourself what brought you here. Work is hard — but it should never feel hollow.
Power move: When you feel drained, don’t disconnect — reconnect with purpose.
6. #BeAmbitious
“If your goals don’t scare you, dream bigger.”
Spot it: A team sets a target that makes everyone nervous — and then actually hits it.
Embody it: Go beyond BAU. Build something no one’s built before. That’s why we’re here.
Power move: Use “What if we…?” more often than “That won’t work.”
7. #PractiseHumility
“If you know everything, you’ve stopped learning.”
Spot it: The most experienced person in the room asking the most questions.
Embody it: Say “I was wrong” more often and learn to share credit. Ask for help. And never assume the org owes you answers — go find them.
Power move: Treat feedback as a gift, not a threat. That’s where real growth hides.
The most significant lesson to learn here is that you, the Autonaut, own the culture here. You are an ambassador for what CARS24 stands for, not just in your professional space but also in your personal dealings.
Culture isn't just built by founders. It’s built by people who live the values even when it’s inconvenient. It’s all about choosing to do the right thing.
That’s you. And that’s now.
Living these values isn’t a checkbox. It’s a choice made hundreds of times in small, daily moments:
- How you show up in a team call.
- How you resolve a conflict.
- How you treat someone when no one’s watching.
- How you challenge yourself to be better.
These are a few factors that separates good from great. And that’s what makes someone a real Autonaut.
If you are reading this as a new joinee, welcome to the field.
If you’ve been here a while, let this be a gentle reminder: You grow fastest when you live the values hardest.
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