Motus decline exposes deep leadership failures and ethical breakdown

Say the name Imperial to anyone involved in the motor trade,  present or going back 30 years and the name is synonymous with quality.

Now ask the general public their recollection of the Imperial name and without fail the positives flow.

Say the name Motus and the opinion goes south at terminal velocity speed.

Motus is seen as a brand that does not value staff, customer service, or suppliers.

Is this an opinion or a fact? In my eyes, it is a definitive fact. 

Currently the brand is facing legal action to compel it to play by the rules with regards to staff retrenchments and unwarranted, unilateral salary cuts.

Simply put, Motus has identified that with the passage of time, those loyal to the company can be replaced, at a lower cost to company (CTC).

The “problem” with that is it is immoral and plain greed.

Imagine if airline companies around the world decided that their senior pilots can be replaced at a lower CTC.

We refer to it as “The Motus Operandi” and a backhanded compliment it is most definitely not. 

What makes this situation more unacceptable, is that Motus is the official importer into South Africa of Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Renault and the country’s worst brand Tata.

Need an unsafe car?

Hyundai can help with what is officially the country's only zero rated New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) vehicle the Hyundai Grand i10 with the Renault Kwid, the number one pretender for that throne.

Hyundai is the official vehicle partner to SA Rugby and the ladies and men who wear Green and Gold deserve a lot better than the vehicle that has desires to carry you directly to your grave.

Where does it all fall apart?

Lack of motoring people in all the right positions.

Group CEO Ockert Janse Van Rensburg would battle to tell what vehicle he was in if the badge was removed.

Let’s talk about the least fit for the position of CEO in South Africa.

Van Rensburg, the bean counter who battles to count fairly.

Mr CEO of the Year, earns a whopping R35 million a year despite making every wrong decision.

Motus is a highly diversified company that relies on historical success to generate substantial income.

When we say substantial, we are talking about figures at about R2.5 billion after tax.

However the motor division is said to be losing money.

Let’s explain how the individual who cannot identify an SUV from a convertible has messed things up.

Everyone of the competitors Motus is up against, identified the arrival of the Chinese on the world motoring stage.

Van Rensburg identified that being late to the party will be a “great party trick” and now the only thing his colleagues hope is that “it will be his parting trick”.

Motus is the most untransformed company in South Africa and again the facts bear it out.

Group CEO, Motoring CEO, head of Hyundai, Kia and the highly profitable pull the wool over your eyes, Auto Pedigree are all pale and male and most definitely not remotely the best for the position.

Motus your report card says, “You can do better” and doing better is “not just collaborating with the AA of South Africa and MISA” to get the results you don’t deserve.

Watch this space, you are being watched by many! 

Michael Pashut is the owner and founder of the online vehicle platform CHANGECARS and host of the well supported CHANGECARS Podcast . He has 35 years of experience in the motor industry.

BUSINESS REPORT