Thato Magasa took over the reins at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa as the new Managing Director. He succeeds Pedro Pereira, who had been in the position since 2015.
After being with the Motus Group (the holding company of Mitsubishi SA) since 2004 in various executive roles, including Managing Director of SsangYong and Daihatsu, Pedro has moved to the C2 Technology Group as Chief Operating Officer.
As the new Mitsubishi MD, Thato is no stranger to the automotive industry. He has worked in various roles within the Motus Group since he first joined the company in 2009.
Following a short break in 2012, he returned to the Motus Group holding various roles at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, including that of Operations Manager, and he then moved to another senior role within the Motus Group – this time at Renault South Africa.
Prior to this, Thato had been the General Manager for Sales at Renault SA, after completing a 12-month development programme within the Renault Group. He also holds a B-Com Accounting degree and acquired his MBA at GIBS, South Africa.
“Having spent a large part of my career working at challenger brands, I have always found that it is undoubtedly the people within the organisation who make the difference.
“I am highly passionate about the continuous development of people towards the achievement of organisational goals. Our end goal is to offer a consistently high-quality retail and ownership experience of our vehicles, which will be heavily reliant on our people – both within Mitsubishi Motors SA and the dealer network at large, Thato says.”
Charging time remains a worry for many South Africans considering an electric vehicle, who still see it as a disruption rather than a quick stop at a filling station. That view is starting to shift.
The winners of the 2026 Automotive Business Council | naamsa Accelerator Awards were announced at the recently held Auto Week 2026, which took place in eThekwini, KZN.
GWM has expanded its local SUV line-up with the introduction of the all-new Haval H7. Replacing the outgoing model, the newcomer blends boxy styling, advanced technology and a choice of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, giving buyers a versatile family SUV with genuine all-terrain credentials.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
The winners of the 2026 Automotive Business Council | naamsa Accelerator Awards were announced at the recently held Auto Week 2026, which took place in eThekwini, KZN.
With the steep rise in fuel prices since March this year leading to historic record highs following massive increases in October, the government intervention annouched this week, is widely welcomed.
Most motorists will go their entire driving lives without deliberately pushing their vehicle to the limits of adhesion. Yet a sudden downpour, a patch of gravel, standing water or simply carrying too much speed into a bend can quickly expose the limits of a vehicle's grip.
