A Japanese industrial giant
Adding tyre tech value
Tiger economy takeover at TiAuto
One of Japan’ s largest industrial companies acquired South Africa’ s most iconic tyre and fitment centre brand.
Founded in 1967, TiAuto has been operating across Southern Africa for more than six decades, specialising in the tyre, wheel, battery, and automotive service sectors.
Best known for the Tiger Wheel & Tyre brand, TiAuto operates across 161 stores through five Southern African countries. TiAuto’ s entrenched service centre and fitment distribution, and proven technical expertise, are what drew the interest of Japan’ s Marubeni Corporation.
A Japanese industrial giant
Buying TiAuto is not the Marubeni Corporation’ s first venture into Africa. It has offices in several of the continent’ s most important cities, like Addis Ababa, Accra, Abidjan, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, and Maputo.
Marubeni has extensive experience in diversified industrial and manufacturing sectors. It operates in everything from metals and mining to aerospace, agriculture and even fashion. Founded in 1858 as a family business, Marubeni developed from a fabric technology and spinning company( like Toyota) to become a diverse industrial holding and operating company. In the last financial year, Marubeni achieved profits of R55 billion.
Adding tyre tech value
Tyres are often the most underappreciated technology feature on a new vehicle or truck. For South Africa’ s growing car parc, the diversity of new models introduced by Chinese car companies creates a potentially lucrative market. Low profile sizes are increasing, while road conditions are worsening, shortening tyre lifecycles.
For many South African car owners and drivers, tyres remain a grudge purchase. Especially when a low-profile tyre has suffered irreparable road damage from a pothole impact or kerb-grind.
A tyre might appear cosmetically fine, but even a small sidewall chip indicates structural damage that requires replacement. That’ s where quality aftermarket tyre fitment and wheel balancing specialists, like those within the TiAuto portfolio, add value. Modern vehicles are much heavier and roll on large wheels, which can be highly sensitive to any wheel alignment or tyre imbalance issues.
But what does the acquisition mean for customers, suppliers and, importantly, current franchisees who’ ve been with TiAuto’ s brands for decades? TiAuto management has promised that operations and agreements will remain unchanged.
Alex Taplin, Chief Executive Officer of TiAuto Investments, believes the transaction will strengthen the company’ s local offering. Allowing it to access global expertise.“ We are proud of the business we have built over almost six decades and of the trusted brands, talented people and loyal customers that have contributed to our success.”
WORDS IN ACTION 18 JUNE 2026