Sandown Motor Holdings

In May 1982, Sandown Motor Holdings began its journey when it secured the Mercedes-Benz franchise for Sandton, South Africa. For years, it operated as a key dealership, building a reputation centered on the German luxury brand. A significant shift occurred in 1999 when Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), then known as DCSA, acquired a 75% stake in Sandown Motors, signaling a strategic move by the manufacturer to directly enter the retail space. This integration marked a new chapter for Sandown, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBSA. The company expanded, operating several passenger and commercial vehicle dealerships. The business focused on providing comprehensive services, from sales to after-sales support, for brands under the Mercedes-Benz umbrella, including Freightliner and Fuso. A major restructuring began in 2022, following the global spin-off of Daimler Truck from Mercedes-Benz Group. To align with this new focus, MBSA sold a significant portion of Sandown's passenger and commercial vehicle operations in Gauteng to Motus Holdings, a leading South African automotive group. The deal, effective November 2022, included dealerships in key locations like Sandton and Bryanston. Subsequently, in January 2023, Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) acquired the remaining part of Sandown Motor Holdings, primarily its commercial vehicles division in Centurion. This final acquisition solidified Sandown's new identity as the Own Retail division of DTSA, completing its transition from an independent franchisee to a core part of the truck manufacturer's direct-to-customer strategy in the region.