Motus, the automotive group previously known as Imperial, has launched a new online shopping platform that ties together all the Motus business entities in one digital location where all cars listed on the website are owned by the Motus group.

motus.cars will offer all the new and pre-owned cars, motorcycles as well as commercial vehicles available from its 246 dealerships at a single, online location as well as a host of other functionality such as the ability to apply for finance and a regularly-updated blog featuring the latest news and reviews.

What started as a single dealership in downtown Johannesburg has evolved into a business that is now the importer of four major vehicle brands as well as being an automotive retail giant with a network of new car dealerships, representing the majority of vehicle brands available in South Africa today.

Motus Holdings was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in November 2018 following its unbundling from Imperial Holdings Limited. The rebranding of Imperial to Motus ties together all the company’s business interests to create South Africa’s largest automotive retail group with a countrywide dealer footprint. The website motus.cars is the culmination of the Motus rebrand that’s been rolled out over the past two years.

“The world is changing and the way that people buy cars is changing too. The launch of motus.cars is an investment in future proofing our business while at the same time offering customers a safe and convenient way to buy their next car, SUV and bakkie” says Osman Arbee, Chief Executive Officer Motus Group.

“There are several other online aggregator sites in South Africa where consumers can find new and pre-owned cars, but motus.cars is the first automotive retail group to launch a true, online brand in its totality,” says Corné Venter, CEO Motus Retail and Rental SA division.

The world is changing continuously, and automotive retailers need to adapt to the new way of selling cars. Today more than 75% of Motus customers start their car buying journey online and more than 50% of all Motus car sales originate from an online platform.

Representation across all brands means that trading in your current car is welcomed, even if switching brands.

“All brands are treated equally, meaning motorists are no longer tied to the same brand when searching for the best trade-in value on their current car,” says Venter.

The Motus group represents 26 OEMS through 246 dealerships including 21 commercial vehicle dealerships countrywide. Sale of vehicles through these dealerships represents a significant portion of the South African market.

On motus.cars online calculators aid in determining the cost of finance and the cost of ownership, permitting consumers to make an informed decision. Car shoppers can even apply for finance online, with finance applications sent to all major banks ensuring that the customer gets the best deal in terms of repayments and interest rates.

Some 13 different search filters allow visitors to narrow down their vehicle search according to criteria including, but not limited to, province, body type, price, colour, transmission, and fuel type. Another useful filter for the more discerning car shopper is to search by car features, making it easier to find that dream car.

Shoppers are offered the choice between completing an enquiry form, a WhatsApp chat, call now button and a please-call-me request.

Live Chat agents are available online to assist visitors in real time by answering any questions and helping shoppers with their online search by narrowing down their choices according to their motoring needs and budget limitations.

The majority of used cars advertised on motus.cars are between one and five years old, which means that the mileage of these vehicles is reasonable and that in many cases they still have a service or maintenance plan in place. Car shoppers at entry level prices will also have a variety to choose from as motus.cars also offer a vast selection of quality budget-friendly cars in the under R100 000 price bracket.

“With 10 000 vehicles in stock at any given time, consolidating all our vehicle listings on the new motus.cars website gives the consumers a wider variety of vehicles to choose from and a convenient way to shop for their next car at a single online location,” says Arbee.