Cars.co.za, arguably South Africa’s largest automotive platform, has launched its new match-making service for private sellers and dealers after trailing it across Gauteng over the last couple of months.
Aptly named Match! the new service allows private sellers to list pictures and information on their vehicle on the Match!-service on the Cars.co.za web, mobi site or app. Registered dealers can then browse the inventory and bid on vehicles on the same platform.
According to Hannes Oosthuizen, Consumer Experience Manager at Cars.co.za, the app has received over 10 000 listings since it moved from its beta phase, while “several hundred” dealers have activated their Match! service on their Cars.co.za profiles.
“Dealers are incredibly important to us, and Match! was created to help them source good quality used vehicles directly from the source. We will continue to refine the product and user experience for both the seller and the dealer and will consider all feedback from our dealer community,” says Hannes.
How it works:
Private vehicle owners can list their cars – with a detailed description and pictures on the Match! service for free. Once the listing is submitted, the clock starts and dealers have 48 hours to bid for that vehicle.
According to Hannes, dealers can set stock alerts and receive a notification when any car is listed that falls within their parameters.
Once the bidding has started, the vehicle owner can track a bid, or multiple bids, on a consolidated dashboard. A link to this dashboard and info on the bids received are sent to the owner via SMS and email.
After the 48 hours for bidding have expired, the owner has another 48 hours to “connect” the car to an offer. At that point, the seller and dealer’s details are shared, and the two parties can conclude their transaction, with Cars.co.za charging a nominal commission fee to the buying dealer.
“Sellers are under no obligation to sell their vehicles. They can reject offers and provide feedback as to why they rejected them, which is shared with the bidding dealers. What’s more, sellers have an opportunity to re-activate their vehicles for another round of bidding, if they did not like the bids or those bids have expired,” says Hannes.
Korean automaker Hyundai has been an unmitigated success in the SA new car space. The relative newcomer to the market has been a consistent top-five feature on the new-car sales charts. There are many reasons for this, including good, reliable products at competitive prices. In part, the success is also driven by innovation.
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
Lightstone Auto has rolled out a cutting-edge integration designed to transform how alternative lenders, rent-to-own providers and niche finance firms engage with dealerships.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.
Daniel Pink
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
South Africa’s automotive landscape has shifted in recent years as new Chinese brands enter the market, sparking both curiosity and scepticism as each promises better value and a fresher approach.
Ford has officially ceased production of its Focus with the last versions coming of the line at the Saarlouis plant in Germany, drawing to a close more than five decades of manufacturing history.
