Our History | About | Barloworld (2024)

On 13 December 2022 Barloworld unbundled its car rental and leasing business and it listed on the JSE, under the name Zeda.

An exciting development this year was the start of work on Barlow Park, a multipurpose development on the land that previously housed our head office.

Barloworld Automotive & Logistics Division appointed Ramasela Ganda as its Chief Executive for Avis Budget Rent-a-Car – the first black female CEO appointed by Barloworld.

Neo Dongwana was appointed as the first a female Chairman of the Barloworld Board.

Barloworld won the Gender Mainstreaming Champions award for 2020.

In terms of growth, two acquisitions that are in line with the Group strategy were made, Equipment Mongolia which closed on 1September2020 and Tongaat Hulett Starch (Ingrain) which closed on 31October2020.

VT was recognized by Caterpillar as being the #1 Dealer in the ACAM (Asia Pacific, CIS, Africa and Middle East) region for 2015 which is represented by 60 dealers

Barloworld Motor Retail acquired GM Ferndale in Cape Town.

Barloworld Logistics acquired 100% of the re- environmental solutions business which was renamed SmartMatta.

The Avis Budget Group (ABG) granted Barloworld the licence to operate the Budget Brand in southern Africa from 1 March 2015 in addition to the Avis Car Rental brand.

Vision 2020 was launched at the 2015 Global Leaders Conference in March 2015 which sets the growth objectives for the next five years. Sustainability as a core value was also added to the Barloworld Worldwide Code of Conduct.

Barloworld celebrated 20 years as a Caterpillar dealer in Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, and Malawi; and 50 years as such in Botswana.

Barloworld Equipment celebrates its 20th year as the Cat earthmoving and power systems dealer for Zambia. Motor Retail acquired a majority stake in 51% of the Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Witbank, one of the leading Jaguar Land Rover dealerships in South Africa.

Avis Fleet Services entered into agreements to acquire a leasing business in Tanzania.

Barloworld Logistics acquired a majority share in Kumkani, an extra-heavy abnormal load transport business.

The remaining Australian motor retail operations were sold effective from 31 March 2014. The sale of the entire operations realised R1.3 billion.

Motor Retail acquired Leach Toyota and Hino in Kuruman.

Barloworld opened a US$14 million facility in Zambia to meet the servicing needs of Caterpillar customers.

Barloworld Handling acquired the AGCO agricultural equipment dealership in Zambia as part of its Africa growth strategy.

The Integrated Employee Value Model and the Integrated Financial Value Model were launched in 2013.

The remaining 49% shareholding in Toyota Stellenbosch was acquired during 2013, and the dealership is now 100% owned.

Avis Fleet Services acquired the remaining shares in its subsidiary in Lesotho.

A merger between Barloworld Logistics’ Dedicated Transport Services division (DTS) and the Manline group, a diversified logistics business specialising in transport and other logistics solutions throughout southern Africa became effective on 30 January 2013.The merged business, called Barloworld Transport Solutions (BWTS), became a subsidiary of Barloworld Logistics, which had a 50.1% shareholding. It included the Manline, Manline Energy (fuel tankers) and Timber24 (timber logistics and forestry solutions) brands, which would be retained within the BWTS group of companies.

The Handling Belgium business was sold on 8 May 2013, generating €7.5 million in cash proceeds.

Barloworld Logistics acquired a controlling stake in a business transporting abnormal loads, since re-named Manline Mega, in June.

The Ferntree Gully motor dealership in Melbourne was sold effective from 31 October 2013.

Automotive and Logistics division acquires a majority stake in Avis Coach Charter, and Dreamworks (a fuel management company); and secured the entry of Avis Fleet Services into Ghana.

Barloworld Equipment and Tractafric Equipment agreed to extend the original 10 year 50:50 joint venture in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, by another 50 years.

Barloworld was awarded the MWM gas engine distribution rights in southern Africa and Russia.

Barloworld acquired the remaining 50% shareholding in Phakisaworld Fleet Solutions.

Barloworld Logistics acquired specialised chemical transporter, Ecosse Tankers.

Handling US was sold for about US$60 million at the end of April.

Opening of Barloworld Reman Centre for CAT engine and drive train rebuilds in Boksburg, and 85th anniversary of the partnership between Caterpillar and Barloworld Equipment.

Barloworld concluded a joint venture agreement with Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.(EMD), a subsidiary of Caterpillar-owned Progress Rail Services Corp.

Barloworld acquired the Bucyrus equipment distribution and support business in southern Africa for approximately R1.4 billion (US$164 million.)

UK handling business sold for R626 million, effective from 28 September.

An agreement was signed whereby the Bucyrus distribution and support business in Barloworld Russian territories was acquired for US$50 million (R436 million).

A R1.6 billion contract for the supply and commissioning of Cat equipment at the Husab Mine was signed between Barloworld Namibia and Swakop Uranium.

Barloworld Power appointed distributor of Australian Lighting tower and water pump company AllightSykes.