Car Finance / 5 June 2026 / Staff Writer

Chinese cars driving huge growth for South African car dealer

Motus has seen considerable growth in South Africa, driven by its multi-franchise strategy and the influx of affordable Chinese and Indian vehicles.

Motus Holdings Limited is one of South Africa’s largest automotive groups and specialises in overseeing the automotive value chain – including imports, distribution, retailing, renting, and servicing.

The group trades on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and employs over 18,000 people globally, thanks to its operations in countries and regions such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and across Africa and Asia.

However, South Africa remains its primary profit engine as its operations in these other markets are selective.

Affordable cars

The arrival of affordable Chinese and Indian cars in South Africa has had a noticeable impact on the local car market.

“With the introduction of Chinese vehicles as well as some of the Indian products, suddenly vehicles have become a lot more affordable to the consumer,” said Motus CFO Brenda Baijnath while discussing the financial results.

Chinese brands have grown their market share from 2.1% in 2019 to 15.2% in 2025, and brands such as Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, and GWM have become household names.

Motus has leveraged this to its advantage, with the addition of these new brands contributing to its already strong market position.

This has enabled it to achieve a 15% increase in operating profit in South Africa, with significant dealer channel growth of 22%, according to its Interim Results for the six months ended 31 December 2025.

Additionally, its pre-owned vehicle volumes increased by 5%, its vehicle rental operating profit rose by 10%, and its aftermarket parts operating profit increased by 9%.

Its results also revealed that the entry-level segment remained highly lucrative, with average selling prices around R350,000, leading to a shift away from public transport.

“We are seeing that quite a few customers are also starting to move away from public transport and now getting into entry-level vehicles,” said Baijnath.