Distribution Feeds
AutoFire Pro’s Distribution experience generates private feed endpoints from your live inventory so third-party channels pull the same cars, prices, and photos as your website - without maintaining parallel spreadsheets.In this guide
- Enable platforms and copy private feed URLs
- Per-partner setup summaries (Google, Meta, marketplaces)
- Refresh, link rotation, and troubleshooting
Distribution feeds are included on AutoFire Pro ($99.99/month). You pay each marketplace or ad platform directly for their listing or media services - AutoFire keeps your feed current.
How it works
One inventory source
Feeds are built from the same vehicles you manage in Dashboard → Inventory.
Private URLs
Each platform gets a tokenized HTTPS link - treat it like a password.
Automatic refresh
Feeds refresh every 30 minutes. You can also trigger a manual refresh from the dashboard.
Aligned with VDPs
Feed rows reference your vehicle detail pages where partners expect canonical links.
Open Distribution
1
Go to Distribution
From your dashboard sidebar, open Distribution.
2
Enable a platform
Toggle on the channel you want (Google, Facebook, Cars.com, AutoTrader, or CarGurus). AutoFire generates a private feed URL for that platform.
3
Copy the private link
Copy the HTTPS feed URL and paste it where the partner’s onboarding asks for inventory data.
4
Complete partner setup
Each marketplace or ad platform has its own account requirements. AutoFire supplies the feed - you finish onboarding with their rep or self-serve tools.
5
Monitor status
Check generation timestamps and error badges in Distribution. If something fails, fix inventory data or contact support before shoppers see stale listings downstream.
Supported platforms
Platform setup guides
Expand each platform in Distribution to see in-app setup notes. Summary below:Google inventory export - setup required
Google retired its former free Vehicle Listings feature. The Google XML export in AutoFire is a starting point for your Google Ads provider; it does not publish free inventory or restore the Business Profile inventory tab.1
Share the export with your provider
Enable Google in Distribution and share the private XML link with your trusted Google Ads provider for review.
2
Map and validate the data
Your provider must map required fields, store codes, fulfillment, vehicle condition, and landing-page links to the current Vehicle Ads specification. The current export is not a validated, ready-to-submit Vehicle Ads feed.
3
Complete Google account and campaign setup
Paid Google Vehicle Ads use Merchant Center and an eligible Performance Max or Standard Shopping campaign. Google approval and an advertising budget are separate. AutoFire does not manage your campaigns.
“Generated” means AutoFire created a file. It does not confirm that Google accepted the feed, approved the vehicles, or started serving ads. Check Merchant Center diagnostics with your provider. The retired organic Partner Portal is not the onboarding path for paid ads.
Facebook Automotive
Go to Meta Commerce Manager → Catalogs → Data Sources → Add Data Feed. Use a scheduled feed and paste the private feed link from Distribution. Meta supports hourly or slower scheduled pulls. Confirm your dealership profile includes city, state, postal code, country, latitude, and longitude before validating the catalog in Meta.Cars.com
Cars.com onboarding is usually configured by your Cars.com rep. Share the private feed link and ask for the exact required template and field mapping for your account.AutoTrader
AutoTrader feed onboarding is account-specific. Share the private feed link with your AutoTrader rep and confirm their exact field template before going live.CarGurus
CarGurus feed setup is typically handled with your account manager. Share the private feed link and request the current required import template for your dealer account.1
Enable CarGurus in Distribution
Toggle CarGurus on and copy the private CSV feed URL.
2
Contact your CarGurus rep
Provide the HTTPS URL to your onboarding contact or feed intake process - not in public channels.
3
Validate the file
Your rep may require account-specific columns beyond the starter export. Confirm the file passes their validation before going live.
4
Keep inventory current
When you add, sell, or reprice a vehicle in AutoFire, the feed reflects it on the next refresh cycle.
Refresh and link management
Refresh Inventory Now
Refresh Inventory Now
Triggers an immediate feed regeneration instead of waiting for the next scheduled refresh. Use after bulk imports or large pricing changes.
Reset private link
Reset private link
Creates a new token and immediately invalidates the old URL. You must update the saved URL at every partner that was pulling the previous link.
Disable a platform
Disable a platform
Turning off an integration stops partners from downloading your feed until you re-enable it.
Technical reference
Feed URLs follow this pattern:google, facebook, carscom, autotrader, cargurus.
- AutoFire validates the token and serves the current feed directly: Google uses XML and the other platforms use CSV.
- Feed files remain private in storage and are available only through the tokenized AutoFire URL.
- Invalid, disabled, or not-yet-generated feeds return appropriate HTTP error codes.
AutoFire does not run Google Ads, Meta ads, or marketplace billing for you. Feeds supply data; media spend and marketplace contracts remain between you and each platform.
Troubleshooting
Feed shows Pending
Feed shows Pending
Enable the platform and wait for the first generation cycle, or click Refresh Inventory Now. Ensure you have eligible inventory published.
Feed shows Error
Feed shows Error
Open Distribution for error details. Common causes include missing required vehicle fields or storage failures during generation.
Partner says the link stopped working
Partner says the link stopped working
Check whether the private link was reset. After a reset, update the URL in every partner system that stored the old link.
Prices or sold cars are wrong downstream
Prices or sold cars are wrong downstream
Update inventory in AutoFire first - feeds pull from your authoritative dashboard data. Trigger a manual refresh if the partner does not pull on schedule.
Next steps
1
Capture on-site interest
Leads & test drives - forms on vehicle pages complement marketplace traffic.
2
Invite your team
Team management - shared access to inventory and leads.
Inventory
Keep listings accurate before syndicating
Website
On-page SEO complements outbound feeds
Leads & test drives
Work inbound interest from your site (Pro)
Features
Syndication in the Growth category