Car manufacturers reward top dealers
TWO Eastern Cape vehicle manufacturers have announced their top dealerships.
While one Eastern Cape dealer and two KwaZulu-Natal dealers took top honours at General Motors South Africa's (GMSA) annual dealer awards held at the Struandale plant in Port Elizabeth at the weekend, Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) paid tribute to its top performing dealers at a glittering event in the Seychelles.
At Struandale where the Isuzu KB, Chevrolet Utility and Chevrolet Spark are built in Port Elizabeth, GMSA awarded its major dealer category prize to Bates Port Shepstone, the medium dealer category trophy to Brokensha's Estcourt and its small dealer category laurel to Sydfred Motors in Matatiele.
Sydfred Motors dealer principal Peter Kruger said, ideally located close to the border of KwaZulu-Natal, this Eastern Cape dealership's clients were mostly government employees who either bought Chevrolet Aveo or Chevrolet Utility vehicles.
"We have a simple policy. We treat our customers in the same way that we would like to be treated. We were the top-selling dealer in our category for a few months last year, and were busy all year round, apart from January and February," Kruger said.
Kruger, who employs 30 people, said it was important that everyone working at the dealership could speak Xhosa in order to communicate with the majority of his customers in their mother language.
GMSA vice-president of sales, service and marketing Brian Olson said the best performing of the 133 GMSA dealers across South Africa were rewarded every year for achieving or exceeding sales targets and for accomplishing 100% compliance in all areas of the business. "They are rated on customer experience, service excellence, standards, facilities and going the extra mile," Olson said.
Dealers from KwaZulu-Natal also scooped gold when MBSA paid tribute in the Seychelles to its top dealers. The best overall MBSA dealer was Garden City Motors Pietermaritzburg, the best marketing performance dealer was Mercedes-Benz Umhlanga Lifestyle Centre and best after-sales dealer was Mercedes-Benz Durban Old Fort Road.
Chief executive Dr Martin Zimmermann said MBSA last year realised sales figures on the passenger car side of 22636 units, surpassing the previous year by 4.8%.
"Our results are testament to the incredible working relationship between the dealer network and ourselves, but even more so, it speaks volumes about the inspired, passionate people who staff our dealerships, and their exceptional work ethic."
MBSA has 95 individual retail branches across South Africa.
At a gala function in Durban this weekend, Barloworld Toyota Centurion was named the overall Toyota dealer of the year for 2013.
