Jérémy Zimmermann has spent nearly two decades operating at the intersection of technology and one of the world’s most traditional industries. As an entrepreneur and technology founder, he has built and scaled multiple companies across the automotive and software sectors in both France and the United States, often working behind the scenes to modernize how independent professionals operate. Rather than chasing rapid exits or isolated product launches, Zimmermann has taken a system-level approach, designing platforms and ecosystems intended to endure, scale, and adapt over time.
His work is rooted in a clear observation of the automotive market: while independent professionals possess deep expertise, they often lack access to the digital tools, structure, and collective leverage available to large networks. Over the years, Zimmermann has addressed this gap by creating technology-driven platforms that combine automation, data, and AI-powered solutions with practical, real-world usability. These ecosystems now support hundreds of automotive professionals, improving operational efficiency, visibility, and performance without disrupting day-to-day workflows.
In this exclusive interview with AllTech Magazine, Zimmermann shares how his obsession with structure, continuous improvement, and measurable outcomes has shaped his approach to innovation. From automotive software and AI-powered virtual showrooms to cross-border expansion and platform scalability, he reflects on the early decisions that defined his entrepreneurial trajectory, the realities of building trust in a slow-moving industry, and how long-term vision paired with disciplined execution can drive lasting industry-level change.
You have spent seventeen years building and scaling companies across the automotive and software sectors. What early decisions or turning points most shaped your trajectory as an entrepreneur?
Early on, I realized that what truly motivated me was not just entrepreneurship itself, but the ability to build functional, long-lasting systems. I’ve always approached my work with a strong focus on creation, structure, and continuous process improvement.
Technology quickly became a natural lever for me. It allowed me to turn ideas into concrete solutions and create real value, even within traditional industries.
The real turning point came when I committed to entrepreneurship as a long-term vision, not a series of isolated projects, but a coherent path aimed at transforming entire markets. Looking back, it is this drive to change industries through technology, by combining vision, execution, and measurable impact, that has most shaped my journey.
As founder and CEO of multiple technology-driven companies in France and the United States, how did you identify gaps in the automotive ecosystem and turn them into scalable platforms?
What stood out to me most in the automotive sector was the structural isolation of independent professionals. Many of them are highly skilled on the ground, yet they often operate alone, without access to the tools or collective strength available to large networks.
Early on, I made a deliberate choice not to build isolated tools, but to design true ecosystems. My approach has always been platform-first rather than product-first, with solutions built to evolve and adapt to real-world conditions.
This vision was intentionally driven by scalability. The goal was not to solve a short-term problem, but to turn a fragmented market into a sustainably structured one, serving independent professionals and contributing to the broader evolution of the industry.
You have created and led ecosystems serving hundreds of automotive professionals. What does building trust and long-term adoption look like in an industry that has traditionally been slow to change?
The main barrier to adoption in the automotive sector is not resistance to change, but a lack of time. Professionals are under constant pressure and cannot afford to adopt complex or time-consuming solutions.
My approach has therefore been to design simple, practical, and immediately useful process solutions that integrate naturally into daily operations while delivering measurable gains in time and performance.
An ongoing obsession with satisfaction played a key role. The real sign of success came when professionals began recommending the platforms spontaneously to their peers, proving that adoption was driven by real value delivered on the ground.
Your work spans automotive software, digital platforms, and AI-powered tools. Can you share a concrete example of how automation or artificial intelligence delivered tangible business results at scale?
A very concrete example of the impact of artificial intelligence in our projects is automated image processing and the creation of virtual showrooms.
In the automotive industry, visual quality plays a critical role in purchase decisions. We therefore developed an AI solution that automatically transforms a simple smartphone photo into a premium visual presentation, seamlessly integrated into a virtual showroom designed to engage customers.
This approach, designed from the outset for real-world use, has enabled independent professionals to significantly enhance how their vehicles are presented, without technical complexity. The results have been measurable, with increases in contact and conversion rates reaching up to 50% more leads. For me, AI only has value when it is simple to use, integrated into existing workflows, and clearly oriented toward business results.
Leading groups such as Hexagone Automotive, OptimCAR USA, Groupe Zim, and NeoNova require managing growth across borders. What challenges did international expansion present, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge of international expansion was not technology or regulation, but the market itself. Each country has its own habits and expectations, especially in a sector as locally driven as automotive.
To address this, I relied on universal business fundamentals. Selling a vehicle always comes down to the same core pillars: visibility, conversion, and execution. By keeping these foundations intact, we were able to adapt our solutions to local specificities without compromising the core of the model.
This approach allowed us to build flexible platforms designed from the outset for international scalability. Today, it confirms that our model can be deployed sustainably across multiple markets, both in Europe and in the United States.
You are known for combining long-term vision with execution. How do you balance rapid innovation with building durable, profitable companies?
My approach is built on a constant balance between agility and profitability. Innovation needs to move fast, but it must also be designed from the outset to create economic value.
In practice, I prioritize rapid testing and iteration: we prototype quickly, adjust based on real-world feedback, and then structure once usage and results are validated. This allows us to innovate without losing control.
I deliberately avoid organizational rigidity, which slows adaptation, as well as excessive instability, which prevents long-term growth. By combining continuous agility with profitability by design, I’ve built companies that are fast, resilient, and sustainable over time.
I deliberately avoid organizational rigidity, which slows adaptation
Jérémy Zimmermann
Looking back across your portfolio of companies, which accomplishment best represents your ability to drive industry-level impact rather than isolated success?
The achievement that best represents my impact is the creation of a structured ecosystem generating sustainable economic value for hundreds of independent automotive professionals.
The goal was never to build a short-term solution or something dependent on me personally, but to create a durable model capable of operating, scaling, and evolving over time. This ecosystem has helped professionals better structure their businesses, improve performance, and ultimately achieve a better quality of life.
Beyond financial results, the impact is best measured through the lasting transformation of industry practices. This ability to drive change at scale, rather than achieve isolated success, represents the most meaningful accomplishment of my career.
As you continue to focus on innovation and strategic leadership in the automotive and technology space, what legacy are you intentionally building through your work today?
The legacy I aim to build is primarily industry-focused. My ambition has always been to bring structure to a fragmented market and to demonstrate that a traditional industry can evolve through pragmatic, field-driven technology.
Through my projects, I’ve sought to provide coherence, tools, and a long-term vision to professionals who often operate in isolation. The goal is not only economic performance, but a lasting transformation of industry practices.
On a more personal level, I am a pragmatic and visionary leader. I firmly believe that success can be achieved differently, through learning, determination, and resilience. Through my work, I aim to change an industry, find balance between professional ambition and personal fulfillment, and show that an autodidactic path can create real and lasting impact.
