Buying a pre-owned vehicle can be a tedious process. Traditionally buyers needed to search various platforms or drive from dealership to dealership to find a vehicle that suits their needs and pocket. motus.cars aims to revolutionise the pre-owned market in South Africa with the launch of a dedicated website that will offer all the cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles available from 246 Motus dealerships at a single, online location.
The name Motus might be new but it comes with heritage. Previously known as Imperial, the group has been around since 1948 and is a trusted automotive retail brand in South Africa as well as abroad. 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.
In an industry first for any dealer group, motus.cars offers consumers everything they could ever need in order to make an informed vehicle purchasing decision in a simple, safe, and convenient manner in one place. Once a decision and initial contact has been made the next step in the process can be taken, such as applying for finance or arranging a test drive.
“There are several other online aggregators in South Africa where consumers can find new and pre-owned cars, SUV’s and bakkies, but motus.cars is the first retail group to launch a true, online brand in its totality, offering consumers maximum peace of mind and the best possible online experience as all cars listed for sale are owned by Motus,” says Corné Venter, CEO Motus Retail and Rental SA division.
“The world is changing and the way 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.
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. Customers used to visit five or more dealerships when shopping for a car, now they visit one or two, preferring to find their dream car online. motus.cars makes this easy, with a huge variety of quality new and pre-owned vehicles in one easy to access location, which is now just a click away.
The motus.cars website will showcase more than 10 000 dealer-certified pre-owned cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, available from Motus dealers country-wide.
In the past, customers searching for a pre-owned car in the Motus stable had to visit the individual online platforms. The benefit of the new motus.cars website is that it allows customers to view all the pre-owned cars available in the Motus group in one place. This too means increased variety, allowing the customer to find the exact vehicle they are after, at the mileage and price that suits their pocket.
motus.cars is the safe and trusted portal to shop for your next car. No dealing with stand alone second-hand car dealers or private sellers. All vehicles listed on the motus.cars website are owned by Motus dealerships. There are no classified or private advertisements, meaning that customers can shop with peace of mind knowing that they are dealing with a reputable brand backed up by qualified staff and brick and mortar facilities.
Representation across all brands means that trading in your current car is welcomed, even if motorists are switching brands. “All brands are treated equally, meaning that motorists are no longer tied to the same brand when searching for the best trade-in value on their current car,” said Venter.
Shopping for a vehicle no longer needs to be limited to the customers’ local area. Motorists can shop a wide variety of vehicles on motus.cars and have their chosen vehicle delivered anywhere in South Africa.
All pre-owned cars sold on motus.cars are subjected to a comprehensive check and the dealer will assist with the registration of the vehicle to the customer’s name, which means that apart from the inhouse checks all used cars include a valid roadworthy certificate. The Motus used car quality control process eliminates the chances of any stolen or rebuilt vehicles being offered for sale.
motus.cars also stock ex-rental vehicles, giving customers the opportunity to take advantage of this large volume of pre-owned stock.
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. Entry-level shoppers will also not be disappointed, with the vast variety of quality budget-friendly cars.
Online calculators aid in determining the cost of finance and the cost of ownership, permitting consumers to make an informed decision. Finance applications are sent to all major banks ensuring that the customer gets the best deal in terms of repayments and interest rates.
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.
Vehicle inspection reports are available on selected used cars and highlight any special options that a vehicle may be fitted with while also making buyers aware of any imperfections. This ensures that the buyer knows exactly what they are getting, which is a reliable car that will not be followed by surprises down the road.
Enquiring about a car on motus.cars is easy thanks to four different contact methods. Car shoppers can choose their preferred channel which includes an enquiry form, a WhatsApp chat, a phone call or a please-call-me request and are connected directly with the selling Motus dealer.
Live Chat agents are also able to assist visitors in real time by answering any questions relating to their vehicle needs and wants and will assist in narrowing down their vehicle options in line with their requirements and budget limitations.
Visitors to the motus.cars website can add cars to their Favourites, making browsing easier when narrowing down their search. This is an example of the functionalities that have been implemented which online shoppers have become accustomed to when browsing online for clothing, household products, etc.
The car ownership cost calculator allows shoppers to calculate the true cost of owning a car and avoid over-reaching their budget while tips and tools will assist newbie shoppers in their purchasing decision.
The Frequently Asked Question section covers topics ranging from website functionality to finance terms and buyer tips.
motus.cars is “everything cars”. It’s the online brand of an organisation that live and dream cars. A network of experts with a passion for cars. They do everything, so all that is left for the car shopper to do, is to click.
* Website: https://motus.cars/
* Manifesto video Youtube link: https://youtu.be/Pj9bwFszCko
* https://www.facebook.com/motus.carssa
* https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEeNO-djwT4t3WJzgN6xRA
Also view:
Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety
Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer
The Online Vehicle Retail Market and Safely Selling Vehicles Online