Stellantis has stepped up its used car presence in Africa with the launch of Auto24 activities in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in conjunction with online marketplace Africar Group.
Auto24 is a direct to consumer used car company that brings new, innovative solutions ensuring transactions are conducted in a transparent and secure way, explained the firms in a statement.
Stellantis has also taken a stake in Africar Group to create Auto24.
The African population is set to reach 1.7 billion by 2030 and a car-park already at 50 million units, this investment is a new building block in a global strategy to develop a mobility solution portfolio and reinforce a commitment to customer centricity, explained of Stellantis.
Operating in more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Africar Group is Africa’s leading online automotive marketplace network. During the last five years, it has enabled over 25 million car buyers and sellers to trade used cars through its online channels.
“After more than five years of working with automotive manufacturers, distributors and other key players in the industry, we have developed a class leading, multi country digital automotive solution across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Axel PEYRIERE, co-Founder & CEO of Africar Group said.
“Auto24 is being launched today with the aim to buttress the confidence of African customers in the used vehicle market. A great challenge that will allow to have a secure, convenient, trustworthy and enjoyable buying or selling used vehicle experience.”
Xavier Duchemin, Senior Vice President of the Pre-Owned Vehicles business unit at Stellantis added: “This investment in Africar Group to create Auto24, re-enforces our strategy to grow our used vehicle business activity globally in a bold, pragmatic and agile way. It will follow the same blueprint as per the other Stellantis investments in the used vehicle ecosystem.
“The founders will accelerate the development of their activities while capitalizing on Stellantis yet maintaining the inventiveness, energy and agility that characterizes start-up companies.”.
In Middle East and Africa, Stellantis is the third OEM aiming to become the leading automotive group in the region with over 1 million new vehicles sold per year by 2030.
“In Sub-Saharan Africa, Stellantis offers the largest network coverage of the automotive industry with close to 124 points of sales and maintenance. Today, the partnership with Africar Group through its subsidiary Auto24 will allow us to expand our offer of mobility solutions that widely meets the customer needs in Africa.” said Samir CHERFAN, Stellantis’ Middle East & Africa COO
