WeBuyCars: Meet the two brothers who built a R10 billion auto empire

For millions of South Africans, buying a pre-owned car is more than just a necessity; it’s a financial lifeline. And behind one of the country’s largest and most trusted pre-owned car platforms, WeBuyCars, are two brothers whose journey began with an old family car and a dream.

Adriaan Stephanus Scheepers (Faan) and Dirk Jacobus Floris (Dirk) van der Walt, the masterminds behind WeBuyCars (WBC), transformed their humble beginnings in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, into a business now valued at over R10 billion. Today, WeBuyCars buys and sells over 13,000 vehicles monthly, generating annual revenues of more than R23 billion.

Humble beginning sparks a passion

Growing up in a modest household, Faan and Dirk’s fascination with automobiles started early. Their father, a security guard, often repaired the family’s aging car alongside the boys. This hands-on experience ignited their love for fixing cars and understanding their mechanics.

In 1988, while still in high school, Faan made his first profit in vehicle trading. He bought a Yamaha XT500 motorcycle for R400, refurbished it, and sold it for R450. A second trade brought even more success, with a purchase at R800 and resale at R1,400. These small victories laid the foundation for their entrepreneurial journey.

Faan later pursued a teaching degree at the University of Pretoria and worked in the UK for two years, saving foreign currency to invest in the future business. Dirk, meanwhile, earned a marketing degree, equipping him with the skills to shape their business’s growth.

The birth of WeBuyCars

In 2001, the Van der Walt brothers launched WeBuyCars as a small, self-run business. Dirk’s insistence on creating a website was initially met with skepticism from Faan, as internet usage was far from mainstream in South Africa at the time. Yet, the simple and memorable name, WeBuyCars, resonated with users.

The platform offered a revolutionary service: sellers could approach them directly to sell vehicles before listing them on the market. This approach allowed the brothers to curate their inventory to meet specific client needs, a strategy that quickly gained traction.

By 2010, WBC’s growth necessitated its first major investment—a warehouse in Pretoria East with capacity for 100 vehicles. Within six months, the brothers expanded by acquiring adjacent land, scaling operations to house 700 cars by 2012. The business hired its first team members that same year, marking its evolution into a nationwide operation.

Scaling new heights

The company’s exponential growth led to its first Cape Town branch in 2014, followed by multiple outlets across South Africa. The transformative milestone came in 2017, with the acquisition of Midstream’s Car Supermarket, Africa’s largest showroom at the time, capable of holding 1,100 cars.

Demand continued to outpace supply. In 2021, the Van der Walts purchased Randburg’s iconic TicketPro Dome, converting it into Africa’s largest car sales location. Today, the Dome can accommodate up to 1,300 vehicles.

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