Motus Holdings
Motus Holdings is a South African automotive distribution, retail, rental, mobility-services, and aftermarket-parts group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Motus Holdings is a South African automotive group headquartered in Germiston, Gauteng. Unlike a vehicle manufacturer, Motus operates across the commercial chain surrounding motor vehicles: importing and distributing new vehicles, selling new and used cars, running dealerships and rental branches, providing mobility and financial services, and distributing and retailing aftermarket parts. It is widely described as South Africa’s largest vehicle dealership group and is among the country’s larger companies by revenue. The business traces its origins to Imperial Holdings, whose South African activities began in 1948 with the opening of a Johannesburg central-business-district car dealership. Motus developed within Imperial’s automotive operations before becoming an independent listed group. The separation process began in January 2018, and Motus was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in November of that year. It subsequently also became traded on A2X Markets. South Africa remains the group’s core market. Its domestic activities include manufacturer-franchised passenger- and commercial-vehicle dealerships, used-car networks, vehicle rental, workshops, parts distribution, and parts retail. Important domestic brands and networks include Auto Pedigree, a national used-vehicle retailer; Motus Select, a pre-owned vehicle network; and Midas, an aftermarket-parts chain owned by the group. Motus also operates rental businesses and automotive franchises across the country. Its international operations extend the model beyond South Africa. In the United Kingdom, Motus combines commercial- and passenger-vehicle dealerships with a substantial aftermarket-parts business. In September 2022, its UK subsidiary acquired Motor Parts Direct, strengthening the group’s position in parts distribution and retail. Motus also has automotive retail operations in Australia, parts activities in Taiwan, China, and continental Europe, and dealership, rental, and parts operations in selected Southern and East African markets. The group reports four principal operating divisions: Import and Distribution; Retail and Rental; Mobility Solutions, including financial technology, data, and financial services; and Aftermarket Parts. Retail and Rental is the largest of these activities, while the other divisions provide distribution reach, customer financing and mobility services, and recurring revenue from vehicle maintenance and parts. The group handles both passenger and commercial vehicles and sells new and used vehicles through manufacturer franchises and its own used-car formats. Motus distributes or represents multiple international automotive marques. In South Africa it has held exclusive distribution relationships for brands including Mitsubishi, Tata, Renault, Kia, and Hyundai, while its regional operations include Nissan and Haval distribution rights in selected East African countries. It has also imported or sold newer automotive brands such as Omoda, Jetour, Jaecoo, MG, and Chery. In February 2025, Motus announced a five-year agreement with Tata covering passenger-vehicle distribution in South Africa and certain neighboring countries. The company’s scale is reflected in its large outlet network, dealership base, vehicle-rental presence, and parts footprint. Its stated activities include sales of new and pre-owned vehicles, workshops, parts and related goods, rental vehicles, and services supporting vehicles after their manufacturer warranties expire. Motus also reports environmental, workforce-diversity, road-safety, literacy, and community-health initiatives, including participation in South Africa’s YES4Youth employment program. The group’s current strategy is shaped by changing vehicle-brand competition, the growth of Chinese manufacturers, demand for used vehicles, and the transition toward new-energy vehicles, with the United Kingdom and Australia identified as particularly important new-energy-vehicle markets.
History
Motus Holdings developed from the South African automotive activities of Imperial Holdings. Imperial’s local history began in 1948, when it opened a car dealership in Johannesburg’s central business district. Over subsequent decades, the automotive business expanded from dealership operations into vehicle distribution, rentals, parts, workshops, and related mobility activities. This created a diversified platform able to participate in several stages of the vehicle ownership cycle without manufacturing cars itself. A major structural change occurred in January 2018, when Motus was separated from Imperial Holdings. The transaction created a standalone automotive group with operations spanning South Africa and international markets. Motus completed its Johannesburg Stock Exchange listing in November 2018 and later became available for trading on A2X Markets. As an independent company, it continued to build scale through manufacturer relationships, dealership networks, used-car retail, rental operations, and aftermarket activities. Used vehicles became an important area of expansion. In March 2021, Motus acquired 49% of GetWorth, a pre-owned vehicle retailer founded in 2017. GetWorth’s model involved buying vehicles for cash and selling them from warehouse-style locations, including a flagship site in Montague Gardens, Cape Town. Motus raised its interest to 60% in May 2022, giving it a majority position and strengthening its participation in more modern, inventory-led used-car retail. International growth also focused on aftermarket parts. At the end of September 2022, Motus Holdings UK acquired the British company Motor Parts Direct. The transaction added a sizeable UK parts business to Motus’s existing commercial-vehicle, passenger-vehicle, and parts operations. The group consequently combined dealership and rental activities with a substantial out-of-warranty parts platform across several territories. By the mid-2020s, Motus was organized around four broad divisions: Import and Distribution; Retail and Rental; Mobility Solutions; and Aftermarket Parts. Retail and Rental was the dominant division, while import and distribution connected vehicle manufacturers with local markets. Mobility Solutions covered activities such as fintech, data, and financial services, and Aftermarket Parts supplied distributors, wholesalers, retailers, workshops, and vehicle owners whose cars were outside their original warranties. South Africa remained the company’s largest operating base. The group’s domestic portfolio included manufacturer-franchised dealerships, commercial-vehicle outlets, Auto Pedigree used-car stores, Motus Select pre-owned outlets, rental branches, workshops, and a very large parts network. Midas formed a particularly important part of the aftermarket presence. Outside South Africa, Motus operated in the United Kingdom, Australia, Southern and East Africa, and selected Asian and European locations. Its manufacturer portfolio included long-established global brands as well as newer Chinese marques, reflecting increasing competition and diversification in the South African vehicle market. Leadership changed in November 2024 when Osman Arbee retired after more than 20 years with Motus and Imperial. He was succeeded by Ockert Janse van Rensburg, previously the group’s chief financial officer. In February 2025, Motus announced a five-year Tata distribution agreement covering South Africa and certain neighboring countries. The company also reported growth in South African vehicle sales during 2025 and continued to emphasize used vehicles, aftermarket parts, new-energy vehicles, operational scale, and community programs. Its corporate-responsibility activities have included road-safety education, literacy and healthcare initiatives, recycling partnerships, renewable-energy procurement, and investment in the YES4Youth employment program.
- 2025
Tata distribution agreement
[1]Motus announced a five-year agreement to distribute Tata passenger vehicles in South Africa and selected neighboring countries.
- 2024
Chief executive succession
[1]Osman Arbee retired and Ockert Janse van Rensburg became chief executive.
- 2022
Majority ownership of GetWorth
[1]Motus increased its GetWorth shareholding to 60%.
- 2022
Motor Parts Direct acquisition
[1]The group’s UK subsidiary acquired British aftermarket-parts company Motor Parts Direct.
- 2021
Initial GetWorth investment
[1]Motus acquired a 49% shareholding in used-vehicle retailer GetWorth.
- 2018
Separation from Imperial Holdings
[1]Motus was spun off from Imperial Holdings in January and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in November.
- 1948
Imperial’s South African automotive origins
[1]The business lineage began with the opening of a car dealership in Johannesburg’s central business district.
Products and positioning
A large, multi-market automotive distribution and retail platform rather than a vehicle manufacturer, combining dealership operations, used-car retail, rental, mobility services, and aftermarket parts.
Automotive retail
New-vehicle dealerships
Motus operates manufacturer-franchised dealerships selling passenger and commercial vehicles. Its distribution and retail relationships cover brands such as Mitsubishi, Tata, Renault, Kia, Hyundai, and selected regional marques. Dealerships also connect customers with servicing, parts, finance, and related ownership support.
Pre-owned vehicle retail
Auto Pedigree
Auto Pedigree is Motus’s South African used-vehicle retail brand. It provides a dedicated network for selling pre-owned vehicles and forms part of the group’s strategy of serving customers beyond the new-car market. The brand complements Motus Select and the group’s manufacturer-linked dealerships.
Pre-owned vehicle retail
Motus Select
Motus Select is a pre-owned vehicle network focused on used cars, including vehicles up to approximately six years old within Motus’s broader used-vehicle proposition. It gives the group a branded route to market for customers seeking inspected and retailer-supported second-hand vehicles.
Aftermarket parts
Midas
Midas is an automotive aftermarket-parts chain owned by Motus in South Africa. It serves vehicle owners, repairers, workshops, and other trade customers with parts and related products, supporting the group’s focus on vehicles that are outside their original manufacturer warranties.
Automotive parts
Aftermarket parts distribution
The group distributes, wholesales, and retails parts for out-of-warranty vehicles. Its network includes distribution centers, parts outlets, franchises, and the UK Motor Parts Direct business. This division provides recurring aftermarket demand alongside vehicle sales and dealership operations.
Brand decisions
2025
Expand Tata passenger-vehicle distributionStrategyBackground
Motus was responding to changing automotive-market conditions and competition among established and newer vehicle manufacturers.
Action taken
The company signed a five-year agreement to distribute Tata passenger vehicles in South Africa and selected neighboring countries.
Aftermath
The agreement added or expanded Tata passenger-vehicle distribution within Motus’s regional brand portfolio.
2022
Increase GetWorth ownershipM&ABackground
The investment gave Motus an opportunity to deepen its position in pre-owned vehicle retail.
Action taken
Motus raised its GetWorth shareholding from 49% to 60% in May 2022.
Aftermath
The transaction made GetWorth a majority-owned part of Motus’s used-vehicle portfolio.
2022
Acquire Motor Parts DirectM&ABackground
Motus was expanding its UK aftermarket-parts platform alongside its existing dealership and rental operations.
Action taken
Motus Holdings UK acquired Motor Parts Direct at the end of September 2022.
Aftermath
The acquisition enlarged Motus’s UK parts distribution and retail presence.
Acquisition consideration. R3.62 billion (reported as £182 million) (September 2022)
2021
Acquire a stake in GetWorthM&ABackground
Motus sought greater exposure to the growing pre-owned vehicle market and to GetWorth’s warehouse-based, cash-purchase retail model.
Action taken
Motus acquired 49% of GetWorth in March 2021.
Aftermath
Motus later increased the investment to majority ownership.
Recent events
Motus acquires FAI Automotive[4]
Motus acquired the entire issued share capital of UK-based FAI Automotive. The article reports an enterprise value of roughly R700-million and says FAI's existing management team was set to continue managing the business day to day.
Sources4 sources
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