AfriCar Weaves Koto.ci Into Africa’s First Unified Car Buying Ecosystem

AfriCar Group, a digital automotive services provider backed by Stellantis, has acquired Koto.ci, Côte d’Ivoire’s leading new car price comparison platform. The acquisition, announced in August 2025, aligns with AfriCar’s broader strategy to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem across Africa that supports car buyers and sellers at every stage of ownership. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the transaction underscores AfriCar’s commitment to enhancing transparency and accessibility in the continent’s automotive market.

With the integration of Koto.ci, AfriCar now operates more than 70 digital platforms across 15 African countries, including marketplaces, certified used car services, and content platforms. Its portfolio includes Auto24.Africa, Voitures.ci, and media brands such as AutoMag.ci, AutoMag.sn, AutoActu.ma, AutoMag.rw, and IMotoNews.co.za. Collectively, these platforms attract over 15 million annual users, establishing AfriCar as the most widely accessed automotive service provider on the continent. The addition of Koto.ci further strengthens AfriCar’s position as Africa’s only pan-continental, technology-enabled mobility service.

Koto.ci, founded by Moroccan technologist Abdessamad Misbah, has emerged as a trusted source for new car pricing in Côte d’Ivoire, a market historically lacking in reliable comparative data. By incorporating this functionality into its broader platform, AfriCar aims to provide buyers with end-to-end support—from research and comparison to purchase—while reinforcing its commitment to digital transformation in the region. AfriCar’s chief development officer, Alexandre Allanic, emphasized that Koto.ci is “more than a price reference tool—it is a strategic initiative designed in Africa to serve Africa’s mobility aspirations.”

AfriCar already operates Auto24.ci and Voitures.ci in Côte d’Ivoire, offering certified used cars and general automotive marketplaces. The acquisition of Koto.ci allows the group to complete the buyer’s journey with new car pricing, creating a more cohesive experience. AfriCar also plans to extend this integrated model to other Auto24 markets, including Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa. The move reflects AfriCar’s broader ambition to replicate successful local solutions across the continent.

The integration of Koto.ci is expected to play a critical role in AfriCar’s EV24.Africa initiative, launched in partnership with Auto24.Africa. EV24 has already delivered its first batch of electric vehicles to customers in ten African countries and aims to accelerate the continent-wide adoption of electric mobility. AfriCar CEO Axel Peyriere has set an ambitious target of selling 100,000 cars annually by 2030, compared to the current 8,000 to 10,000 units per year. The acquisition supports this objective by streamlining access to pricing data, reducing buyer hesitation, and encouraging the adoption of more structured purchasing channels.

AfriCar’s ownership structure includes majority control by Emerging Classifieds Ventures, an Australia-based marketplaces operator, alongside strategic backing from Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automakers. This financial and industrial support has enabled AfriCar to pursue an aggressive acquisition strategy, consolidating Africa’s fragmented automotive market. The group’s approach highlights how global capital is increasingly being directed toward Africa’s growing automotive sector.

Africa’s car market remains underdeveloped, but it offers strong growth potential driven by urbanisation and rising incomes. Transparent platforms like Koto.ci help reduce decision-making friction, encouraging consumers to shift from informal transactions to structured marketplaces. AfriCar’s ecosystem model seeks to capture this transition by offering a unified solution that integrates inventory, pricing, financing, and insurance. As AfriCar expands across the continent, its approach could redefine how millions of Africans buy, sell, and finance vehicles in the coming decade.

Source: [1] AfriCar Group Acquires Côte d’Ivoire’s Koto.ci to Boost Auto Ecosystem (https://www.startupresearcher.com/news/africar-group-acquires-cote-d-ivoire-s-koto-ci)