OLX enters Western European auto classified market with La Centrale acquisition

Online marketplace OLX will enter the Western European auto market with the acquisition of leading French motors classified platform La Centrale for 1.1 billion euros (R22.38 billion), its owner, the JSE and Amsterdam-listed Prosus said on Friday.

Prosus, a subsidiary of Naspers, is focused on food and lifestyle e-commerce and in August reported a 54% jump in its e-commerce adjusted core earnings. On Friday it said that buying La Centrale would help it enter the European autos market and strengthen its e-commerce presence in the continent, complementing the recently announced planned acquisition by Prosus of meal delivery company Just Eat Takeaway.

"I expect to invest more in AI technology in France," Prosus CEO Fabricio Bloisi said in a statement. Prosus expects the deal to close by year-end.

OLX CEO Christian Gisy said in an online presentation La Centrale typically has approximately 400 000 vehicles listed on its platform, and, very roughly, some 1.4 million vehicles are sold off its site in a year. He said there were some 8 to 10 other auto classified sites in France, but that La Centrale is the  market leader. He said the company has also been profitable for many years.

OLX perceives the acquisition as a significant market opportunity. “The French car market is healthy and resilient, with solid growth potential in the dealer segment. The ongoing shift of the used cars market towards professional sellers presents significant upside as the dealership landscape matures and consolidates.”

Professional dealers account for 36% of used car sales, compared with 70% in Germany, and the average value per dealer transaction sits below European benchmarks. At the same time, margins on new cars are tightening, EV adoption is reshaping supply, and consumers are turning to trusted digital platforms for transparency and choice.

“Classifieds platforms like La Centrale are well-positioned to capture this opportunity by connecting professional sellers with a growing pool of value-conscious buyers," said Gisy. France is Europe's second biggest car market.

OLX operates fast-growing and profitable online marketplaces for motors, real estate, jobs, and goods with 29 million monthly users in eight countries, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe. La Centrale is recognised as France’s most specialised auto platform, with strength in higher-value vehicles and deep trust among sellers and consumers, OlX said.

The transaction combines two proven leaders in classifieds, strengthening OLX's European autos portfolio while bringing on a strong leadership team to help build Prosus's ambition to become the leading European e-commerce ecosystem.

“La Centrale is a natural fit within our classifieds portfolio. Our strategy is to unleash the growth potential of vertical marketplaces, building strong regional leaders by scaling businesses using our proprietary AI technology," said Gisy.

Fabricio Bloisi, CEO of Prosus, said La Centrale would strengthen their lifestyle e-commerce ecosystem in Europe.

“La Centrale will expand our footprint into one of Europe’s most dynamic technology markets and unlock new opportunities to innovate, scale, and deliver even greater value to consumers and partners through AI,” he said.

“La Centrale has long been a trusted destination for dealers and consumers in France,” said Philippe Chainieux, CEO of La Centrale. “We believe that joining forces with OLX and Prosus will allow us to expand that mission, accelerate innovation, and deliver even greater value to our customers," he added.

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