Motovac

What Motovac does

Motovac, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, is one of the largest importers and distributors of automotive spare parts in Southern Africa. The company imports from suppliers in Australia, Italy, India, Japan, Thailand, China, and the UK and distributes 80,000+ parts across 30,000+ part numbers covering more than 600 different vehicles. Product categories span automotive body panels, engine parts, brake and clutch components, suspension, cooling systems, truck and trailer parts, German-car specialty parts (as authorized distributor of Frey Auto Parts for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, and Audi), borehole diesel engines, and automotive paints and abrasives.

Motovac operates a sales-led, physical-distribution go-to-market through 41+ branch locations across Botswana and Namibia, serving wholesale, retail, government, and professional-customer segments (workshops, panelbeating shops, petrol stations, and resellers). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; professional customers receive premium, sometimes quantity-based pricing, credit facilities, and free delivery within city limits, with electronic statement delivery and 7–10 day application response times. The Motovac Group also operates adjacent subsidiaries — FLO-TEK (pipes and fittings), Dunlop Zone Botswana (tyre services), Vintage Travel & Tours (international travel), and Pantera Auto Parts (Costa Rica retail) — diversifying group revenue and capturing cross-sell at the customer level. The company is privately held with 501–1,000 employees and no external institutional investors disclosed in the source material.

Name

Motovac

Legal name

Motovac

Website

https://motovac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Motovac is one of Southern Africa's largest automotive spare parts distributors, operating 41+ branches across Botswana and Namibia. Founded in 1983, the company imports and supplies 80,000+ parts to wholesale, retail, government, and professional workshop customers across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Parts Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Aftermarket Parts Distribution (Light-Duty) (TLAKAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mechanical replacement parts distribution (engine, drivetrain, steering, suspension, brakes) (CRAOANAA), Paint, refinishing & body shop supplies distribution (coatings, abrasives, tools, consumables) (CRAOANAF), Heavy-duty truck, trailer & commercial vehicle parts distribution (CRAOANAJ), Tires, wheels & related supplies distribution (CRAOANAD)

Keywords

• Automotive parts distribution
• Aftermarket auto parts
• Vehicle spare parts
• Automotive components wholesale
• Truck trailer parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaborone

HQ country

Botswana

HQ region

Africa

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automotive Spare Parts Sales: Primary revenue from importing and distributing automotive spare parts to wholesale, retail and government markets across Southern Africa. Products include body panels, engine parts, suspension parts, brake & clutch parts, cooling systems, truck & trailer parts, auto paints, and borehole diesel engines.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Motovac imports and distributes aftermarket automotive spare parts — including body panels, engine parts, brake & clutch components, suspension parts, cooling systems, truck & trailer parts, automotive paints, German car parts, and borehole diesel engines — to wholesale, retail, and government customers across Botswana, Namibia, and other Southern African markets through 41+ physical branch locations. The company also runs dedicated professional-client programs for workshops, panelbeating shops, petrol stations, and resellers with premium pricing, credit facilities, and free in-city delivery.

Product overview

Motovac operates as a single unified product distribution platform for automotive spare parts, offering an extensive portfolio of 80,000+ available parts across 30,000 part numbers for over 600 different vehicles. The core product offering spans multiple interconnected categories: Automotive Body Panels (bonnets, bumpers, fenders, lightings, radiators), Engine Parts (bearings, pistons, valves, pumps), Brake & Clutch Parts, Suspension Parts, Cooling Systems, and Truck & Trailer Parts. Specialized offerings include German Car Parts (authorized Frey Auto Parts distributor for BMW/Mercedes-Benz), Borehole Diesel Engines (4HP-16HP range), and Automotive Paints & Abrasives. The company also operates subsidiary brands including FLO-TEK (pipes and fittings) and Dunlop Zone Botswana (tyres). Motovac imports from Australia, Italy, India, Japan, Thailand, China, and the UK, serving wholesale, retail, and government markets across Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automotive Body Panels Exterior vehicle components including bonnets, bumpers, fenders, lightings, panels, radiators, door mirrors, switches, and window mechanisms that protect vehicle structure and enhance appearance. Sold to wholesale, retail, and government customers across Southern Africa.
• Engine Parts Vital engine components such as main bearings, big end bearings, pistons and rings, liner kits, valves, valve guides, valve seals, water pumps, fuel pumps, oil pumps, filters, and gaskets ensuring engine performance and longevity. Distributed to workshops, panelbeating shops, and retail customers.
• Brake & Clutch Parts High-quality braking and clutch components including brake pads, brake discs, brake kits, clutch plates, pressure plates, release bearings, brake drums, brake shoes, and master cylinders for vehicle safety and control. Sold to professional auto service businesses and vehicle owners.
• Suspension Parts Parts designed for vehicle stability, handling, and comfort including ball joints, tie rod ends, drag links, CV joints, control arms, linkages, and shock absorbers. Sold to professional and retail customers.
• Cooling Systems Critical cooling components such as radiators, fan clutches, and fan blades to prevent engine overheating and ensure longevity. Distributed to workshops, panelbeating shops, and vehicle owners.
• German Car Parts Specialized parts for German vehicle brands including Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. Motovac is the authorized distributor of Frey Auto Parts, a manufacturer of OEM-quality parts for BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Sold to specialty workshops and retail customers.
• Other Parts Essential automotive accessories, lubricants, workshop tools, and panel beating tools for maintenance and repairs. Sold to professionals and retail customers.
• Borehole Diesel Engines Powerful and durable diesel engines for borehole operations available in 8 HP Air cooled, 6 HP Water Cooled, 8/1 HP Water Cooled, and 16 HP Water Cooled configurations designed for efficiency and reliability. Sold to borehole drilling operators and rural water supply customers.
• Truck & Trailer Parts Heavy-duty components for trucks and trailers including mechanical and air suspension parts, service kits, suspensions, body panels, and lamps ensuring durability and performance. Sold to commercial fleet operators, workshops, and resellers.
• Automotive Paints & Abrasives Premium automotive paints, coatings, paint mixing systems, industrial coatings, polishers, abrasives, and sanding machines for vehicle restoration and finishing. Sold to panelbeating shops, refinishing workshops, and retail customers.
• FLO-TEK Pipes & Fittings Subsidiary company supplying pipes and fittings for civil and plumbing requirements with a fully stocked sales outlet in Gaborone serving projects in Botswana and neighbouring countries.
• Dunlop Zone Botswana Tyre Services Tyre services provider in Botswana, part of the Motovac Group network of automotive service offerings. Located at Plot 14460 Kamushongo Road, G-West Industrial, Gaborone.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vintage Travel & ToursminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Vintage Travel and Tours was founded in 1999 and has over 10 team members with 5 specialized International Travel Consultants. They are the market leader in Botswana for international and domestic travel matters. Part of the Motovac Group.
• Frey Auto PartscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrey Auto Parts is an authorized distributor of OEM-quality parts for BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Motovac serves as the authorized distributor in their operating regions, providing specialized German car parts for Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
• FLO-TEKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLO-TEK is a group company that supplies pipes and fittings for civil and plumbing requirements. They have a fully stocked sales outlet in Gaborone serving various projects in Botswana and neighbouring countries.
• Dunlop Zone BotswanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDunlop Zone Botswana is the number one Tyre Services provider in Botswana. Located at Plot 14460 Kamushongo Road, G-West Industrial, Gaborone, Botswana. Part of the Motovac Group network.
• Pantera Auto PartsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPantera Auto Parts is a prominent auto parts retailer based in Pavas, San José, Costa Rica, specializing in new parts for a wide range of vehicle brands. Part of the Motovac Group international network.
• BPWminorOthersBPW is shown as a partner/supplier brand in the Motovac partners section. BPW supplies truck and trailer parts including suspensions, body panels and lamps.
• NGKminorOthersNGK is shown as a partner/supplier brand in the Motovac partners section, specializing in ignition and spark plug products.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• McCarthy Limited: McCarthy is a major South African automotive group with parts, service and dealer operations across Southern Africa - regional peer with overlapping parts distribution activities and similar target customers, though not focused exclusively on aftermarket parts.

Broad incumbents

• Genuine Parts Company: Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive and industrial parts globally through NAPA and other banners - comparable as a broad incumbent in the wholesale auto parts distribution model with similar product breadth and B2B/workshop focus.
• LKQ Corporation: LKQ is a global aftermarket automotive parts distributor with operations across North America and Europe - comparable as a broad incumbent with similar distribution model, scale advantages and exposure to replacement parts demand.
• Bosch Automotive Aftermarket: Bosch is a major global OE and aftermarket parts manufacturer/distributor - comparable as both a competitor (own-brand parts) and supplier to distributors like Motovac, with deep coverage of engine, brake and electrical parts categories.

Direct peers

• AutoZone South Africa: AutoZone is a leading aftermarket auto parts retailer and distributor in South Africa operating a multi-branch network serving workshops and retail customers - directly comparable to Motovac in business model, customer mix and product categories across Southern Africa.
• Halfway Group: Halfway Group operates automotive retail, service and parts operations across Southern Africa - a regional peer overlapping with Motovac in automotive parts distribution, workshop supply and multi-brand aftermarket service.
• Supa Quick: Supa Quick is a multi-branch tyre and auto service retailer across Southern Africa, part of the broader automotive aftermarket ecosystem that overlaps with Motovac's Dunlop Zone and parts categories in target customers and Southern African footprint.
• Midas South Africa: Midas operates a franchised network of auto service and parts outlets across South Africa and neighbouring countries, serving workshops and retail customers with replacement parts - directly comparable in target market and channel model.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/motovac
• Facebookfacebook.com/MotovacMozambique
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/motovac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Motovac