Vehicle catalog API: trims, options and real-time equipment

The vehicle catalog is the reference database that structures the entire automotive offering: makes, models, generations, trims, engines, standard equipment and available options. For professionals building applications around automotive data, accessing this catalog via API is a fundamental requirement.

What does a vehicle catalog cover?

A comprehensive vehicle catalog organises information into a logical hierarchy. With the AutomotivAPI catalog API, this hierarchy is navigable through successive requests:

• Make — the list of all supported manufacturers (Renault, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, etc.)
• Model — the models for each make (Clio, 308, 3 Series, C-Class, Yaris...)
• Generation — the different generations of a model (Clio V, Clio IV, etc.)
• Trim — the equipment levels (Zen, Intens, RS Line, etc.)
• Engine — the engines available for each trim (1.0 TCe 90, 1.3 TCe 140, E-Tech 145...)
• Equipment — standard equipment and available options for each trim/engine combination

Tree-based navigation

The catalog API works like a selection tree. At each level, you retrieve the list of available choices, then drill down by selecting an item. This is the classic pattern used by manufacturers' online configurators, but accessible via API for your own applications.

For example, to display the available trims for a 2025 Peugeot 3008:

1. Request the Peugeot make to get the list of models
2. Select the 3008 model to get the generations
3. Select the current generation to get the trims
4. For each trim, retrieve the available engines and equipment

B2B use cases

Configurators and comparison tools

Car comparison websites and white-label configurators rely on the catalog to offer criteria-based navigation: budget, engine, desired equipment. The catalog API provides all the raw data to power these interfaces.

Vehicle valuation

Valuation and estimation tools use the catalog to precisely identify the trim and options. The price difference between two trims of the same model can be several thousand euros: getting it right is essential.

Dealership stock management

DMS (Dealer Management Systems) use the catalog to pre-fill vehicle records when adding stock. The salesperson selects the make, model and trim, and the system automatically retrieves the list of standard equipment. See our article on ERP and DMS integration.

Finance applications

Motor finance companies use the catalog to verify consistency between the financed vehicle and the declared data. The catalog price serves as the basis for calculating residual value and monthly payments.

Getting started

Access to the catalog is via the database.vehicle endpoint of the AutomotivAPI API. The cost is 0.65 credits per request. The API returns data in JSON format, ready to integrate into any web or mobile application.

The key advantage over a static database is automatic updates. New models, trims and options are added as they are released, without any action on your part. You no longer need to maintain your own vehicle reference database.

For technical integration details, see our documentation or our integration guide for Python, JavaScript and cURL.