June 22, 2021 - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa appoints new MD

vuyi on June 22, 2021

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa is pleased to announce the appointment of Thato Magasa as its new Managing Director. Magasa succeeds Pedro Pereira, who had been in the role since 2015.

The new Mitsubishi MD is no stranger to the automotive industry and has worked in numerous 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 then moved to another senior role within the Motus Group – this time at Renault South Africa.

I am highly passionate about the continuous development of people towards the achievement of organizational goals.
– Thato Magasa, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Motors 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 organization who make the difference,” Thato Magasa says.

“I am highly passionate about the continuous development of people towards the achievement of organizational 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.”

Prior to this, Magasa had been the General Manager for Sales at Renault SA, after completing a 12-month development program within the Renault Group. He also holds a B-Com Accounting degree and acquired his MBA at GIBS in South Africa.

Magasa is extremely enthusiastic about the challenge on hand and has made a great start within this new position.

Moving from public transport to car ownership is easier than you think

vuyi on June 22, 2021

Owning your own set of wheels is very liberating and isn’t as far fetched as some might believe. We got some intel from Motus Retail on how to go about it.

Public transport is not necessarily cheap and the monthly travel expenses of a commuter using multiple taxis, trains, and busses or traveling long distances might very well be on par with the cost of an entry-level car. Besides the cost, owning a car is a dream for many public transport commuters.

“Research indicates that COVID-19 and the associated health and personal safety risks that commuters are exposed to when using public transport has encouraged many commuters to explore buying their own vehicle,” says the CEO of Motus Retail and Rental, Corné Venter.

Owning your own vehicle gives you the freedom to go where you want when you want safely
– CORNÉ VENTER, CEO OF MOTUS RETAIL AND RENTAL

“Owning your own vehicle gives you the freedom to go where you want when you want safely. Buying a car is a serious commitment but with a myriad of finance options to consider, buyers might be pleasantly surprised at what they can afford,” commented Venter.

Everyone’s financial situation differs, but as a general guideline, one should not spend more than 25% of their monthly net income on their total vehicle expenses. It is important to be realistic about what you can afford and just as important to stick to your monthly budget. A car loan is a long-term commitment and car-buyers should thus consider both current and future expenses when estimating their budget.

Buying a car is a serious commitment but with a myriad of finance options to consider, buyers might be pleasantly surprised at what they can afford.
– CORNÉ VENTER, CEO of Motus Retail and Rental

If you earn less than R7 000 per month, monthly installments may still be a little too much for your current budget. However, if you earn between R8 000 and R10 000 per month, you could certainly look at buying a pre-owned vehicle, keeping in mind that your total monthly vehicle expenses should not exceed R2000 to R2500. Saving up for a deposit will also help lower your monthly installments.

Motus promotes a variety of specials monthly that offer exceptional value for money
– CORNÉ VENTER, CEO OF MOTUS RETAIL AND RENTAL

Online calculators help in determining the cost of finance and the cost of ownership, permitting consumers to make an informed decision. Car-buyers can even apply for finance online, and finance applications are sent to all major banks ensuring that the customer gets the best deal in terms of repayments and interest rates.

Factors that influence your credit rating include how long you have been working for your current employer, how long you have lived at your current address, whether you own property and whether you are married.

Banks make it possible for you to structure your finance contract in a way that suits your affordability. This means that you can choose the contract term, the type of interest rate you want, whether you want to pay a deposit and if you would like to use a balloon payment.

“Motus promotes a variety of specials monthly that offer exceptional value for money,” concluded Venter.

The most important thing to do when looking to buy your first car is to shop around to ensure that you get the best deal possible.