The South African Motify Group (Pty) Ltd, an autotech company, announced that it has sold its dealer management system (DMS) business to Pinewood Technologies Group PLC (Pinewood.AI).
Since 2009, Motify has grown the Pinewood.AI system’s footprint across five countries, establishing 300+ dealer partnerships and 30+ OEM partnerships as the exclusive Southern African reseller.
Pinewood.AI's headquarters are in the UK where Pinewood.AI has a team of over 200 people serving over 30 000 global users across 21 countries, and it has long-standing partnerships with over 50 OEM brands.
The sale enables Motify to focus on its autotech products, solutions and consulting services. The Motify suite empowers motor dealers and OEMs to drive customer retention and profitability using technology. Its flagship products include AutoRetention, AutoWeb and AutoInsights.
Each tackles a critical phase of the customer and business journey to identify challenges and turn them into opportunities. Additionally, Motify’s team of experts works with its customers to design practical solutions that deliver technology benefits to the business, a statement says.
As part of the deal, Pinewood.AI has acquired the customer agreements and associates servicing the Southern African market.
“We are proud of what we have achieved with the Pinewood Automotive Intelligence™ Platform in Southern Africa, and the time is right for Pinewood.AI to take over these relationships,” says Julie Caldicott (photo), Motify’s Managing Director.
“For Motify, this positions us to transform how we work with the industry, using digital technology to turn business challenges into opportunities that drive customer retention and profit. We look forward to building on our relationships with dealers and OEMs, becoming their long-term technology partner as they navigate the next evolution of the motor industry,” she states.
“This agreement reflects Pinewood.AI’s commitment to growing its market share in the Southern African automotive market,” says Chantelle Giani, previously finance and operations director at Motify and now finance and operations director of Pinewood.AI Southern Africa.
“As part of Pinewood.AI, the South African team will continue to drive growth and unlock value for current customers, OEMs and importers through the Automotive Intelligence™ Platform. We will work closely with the team at Motify to continue building on our existing relationships and delivering exceptional value to our customers,” she says.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa officially opened Hyundai Midrand, a new dealership aimed at strengthening the brand’s presence in Gauteng and responding to growing customer demand in one of the province’s fastest-growing commercial corridors.
The compact SUV market in South Africa has gained a new contender with the arrival of the GAC Emzoom Nova. It joins the existing Emzoom Executive and Emzoom R‑Style models, broadening the range offered by Salvador Caetano South Africa, the official distributor of GAC Motor.
Chinese vehicle brand Changan has strengthened its South African retail presence with the opening of a new flagship dealership in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, as the company pushes ahead with plans to establish about 45 dealerships nationally during 2026.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
A South African dealership has been instructed to remove or amend an advertisement for a new Jetour T2 after the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the listing created the impression that a specific vehicle was immediately available for purchase when it was not.
If you were hoping to experience the roaring streets of the Isle of Man TT in 2026, you are already too late. This event, with practice sessions starting on 25 May 2026 and racing commencing on the 30th, requires at least six to twelve months of planning, along with a substantial budget.
Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
