Originally established as Southern Motors, Inc. in 1949 under the Yutivo and Sons Group of Companies, SMI as the company was referred to based on its acronym managed the network of branches handling distribution, parts and service in Visayas and Mindanao. It sold General Motors Corporation vehicles such as Chevrolet, Pontiac, Opel, Holden, Vauxhall and Isuzu including genuine parts and provided full service repair and maintenance shops. By 1953 the late Frank N. patriarch of the present day company joined the Davao office as Branch Manager until 1973 when General Motors decided to take more active control of the business. In that same year as part of GMs new plan they required that the Yutivo Group divide the network of branches into three independent companies, which became Northern Motors in Luzon, Cebu Southern Motors in Visayas and Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. in Mindanao. In July 2, 1973 under the leadership of the late Frank N. Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. was incorporated and approved by the Securities Exchange Commission with an all Filipino ownership. On that day Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. or SMDI as it is also presently known became the exclusive franchised dealer of General Motors Pilipinas (GMP) for Southeastern Mindanao and continued to provide the products and services of GM. When the American car companies slowly withdrew from the Philippines in the late 80s SMDI became the exclusive authorized dealer of Isuzu Motors Pilipinas Inc. in 1991 and sold all Isuzu brand new vehicles covering the whole of Southeastern Mindanao. In 1996 Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. became the exclusive franchised dealer of Isuzu Philippines Corporation, distributing brand new Isuzu Vehicles for Southeastern Mindanao also operating a Five Star motor vehicle repair shop duly accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which continues to the present day.
