Africar Group Pty Ltd, owner of AUTO24.africa, has taken over Koto.ci, the leading online guide to new car prices in Côte d’Ivoire. The deal, revealed on 20 August 2025, extends Africar Group’s presence in West Africa and introduces Koto.ci into its growing automotive ecosystem.
Backed by global automaker Stellantis, AUTO24.africa is now present in Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, and Rwanda. The transaction is part of Africar Group’s vision for developing a 360-degree mobility digital ecosystem bringing buyers, sellers, and industry players together into one-stop shop.
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Africar Group’s business focuses on four principal platforms: AUTO24 for certified used cars, local classified websites for private and dealer sales, car content websites for news and analysis, and Koto as a new car reference price level.
Its four pillars are now operational in Côte d’Ivoire with AUTO24.ci, Voitures.ci, AutoMag.ci, and Koto.ci. This provides an interconnected digital platform on which consumers can compare prices, see authenticated listings, and gain insights into market trends.
The Koto platform would be launched in Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa as well, to allow car dealerships and distributors across the continent an official site where they can showcase new prices of cars. To the consumer, it translates to easy transparency in pricing that can lead to informed decisions.
“We aim to support African car buyers throughout their entire journey – from research and comparison, to buying, financing, insuring, and now having full visibility on new car prices,” said AUTO24.africa CEO Axel Peyriere.
Koto.ci was founded by Moroccan technologist, Abdessamad Misbah who has twenty years of experience creating digital solutions for business development. The company integrates with Africar Group’s mission to offer consumers and dealers reliable information in a car pricing market that has had too much opacity.
Africar Group looks to create trust and transparency in the automotive market
With more than 70 sites in 15 countries across the continent of Africa, Africar Group established the biggest digital car ecosystem on the continent. They include AUTO24.africa marketplaces, native classified sites with more than 50 auto content sites like AutoMag.ci, AutoMag.sn, AutoActu.ma, AutoMag.rw, and iMotoNews.co.za, and also the new Koto sites for used car prices.
Together, they attract over 15 million consumers annually, making the scale of online engagement with car services in Africa. Adding Koto.ci has an added layer of price transparency that not only serves the car buyer but also facilitates industry players to offer official prices to consumers.
“Koto.ci is more than a price reference tool — it is a strategic initiative designed in Africa to serve Africa’s mobility aspirations,” added Africar Group Chief Digital Officer Alexandre Allanic. “It will also play a significant role in increasing the uptake of EV through EV24.africa.”
The new platform is designed to be extremely helpful to markets such as Côte d’Ivoire, where used imported cars are most commonly available for sale. By offering new car prices with clear points of reference, Koto can fill gaps in information, allowing consumers to make well-informed comparisons between used and new cars.
Facilitating electric mobility through EV24.africa
Africar Group is also driving electric mobility on the continent with EV24.africa, an initiative dedicated to the promotion of electric cars. The acquisition of Koto.ci will enhance this initiative with the addition of clear EV pricing, which is crucial as customers and businesses begin to think about options in the electric market.
African adoption of EVs remains in its nascent stages, but players such as Koto can set the stage for growth with cost transparency and by allowing dealer participation in rolling out electric variants. Africar Group plans to achieve this with other nations in Africa through localised platforms of Koto that will enable smart purchase choices and promote trust in EV markets.
Founded in Sydney, Australia, Africar Group grew throughout Africa with the funding support of Stellantis and other investors. Its presence now covers a range of verticals of the automotive value chain, from online marketplace to editorial content to electric mobility. With the acquisition of companies like Koto.ci, Africar Group is making an initiative towards becoming the online hub for car services in Africa.
The strategy of the group is indicative of a larger trend towards an online formalisation of buying automobiles in Africa, where price transparency, financing, and online trust are the top priorities. By connecting classified listings, certified used car marketplaces, content websites, and now new car price guide tools, Africar Group is set to help millions of Africans obtain clarification and reliability in the automobile sector.
