Former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg is putting $10 million into Self Inspection, a San Diego startup that aims to replace manual vehicle inspections with smartphone-based AI. The company has already processed over 1 million inspections for rental fleets, finance firms, and auctions. Main Developments Self Inspection's technology allows users to assess car body damage using only a smartphone camera, skipping specialized hardware. The startup, founded in 2021, counts Stellantis' financial services arm among its clients, which uses the platform for corporate fleet and lease-end inspections. Former Tesla president Jon McNeill's DVx Ventures also backs the company. Background Traditional vehicle inspections require physical visits to mechanics or specialized equipment, creating bottlenecks for rental companies and auto finance firms. Self Inspection emerged in 2021 as part of a wave of AI startups targeting legacy industries with computer vision solutions, aiming to cut costs and accelerate turnaround times. Read also: Why Greylock capped its new fund at $1.5B despite surging demand Why It Matters For rental agencies and lenders, faster inspections mean reduced downtime and lower operational costs. The technology could also reshape how insurance claims and lease returns are handled, potentially making the process more accessible and transparent for consumers. What's Next With fresh capital and Sandberg's backing, Self Inspection may expand beyond its current customer base. The company has not announced specific growth targets, but the funding suggests plans to scale its platform to more automotive and financial sector clients.