In South Africa’s competitive automotive retail environment, winning a Dealer of the Year award is a big deal indeed. Not only does it give you bragging rights, but it also tells everyone you know what you are doing to the benefit of customers, staff and the OEM alike.
Several manufacturers recently held their annual dealer conferences where top performers, dealerships, motor groups and individuals were celebrated for their dedication to the job.
Suzuki
It was stiff competition among Suzuki’s 117 dealerships across the country for the top honours. For the second year in a row, Suzuki Kenilworth, part of the Mekor Motor Group, took the silverware home and was also crowned winner in the category for medium dealerships, with Toufique Carelse as the proud dealer principal.
Suzuki Vredenburg, located on the West Coast of the Western Cape, was named Rural Dealer of the Year. Suzuki Brits earned the title of Small Dealer of the Year, while Suzuki Kenilworth was recognised as the top performer in the Medium category. Suzuki Gezina claimed the award for Large Dealer of the Year.
The top three dealerships by sales volume were Suzuki JHB South in third place, Suzuki Boksburg in second, and Suzuki Bassonia in first.
Among dealer groups, the IPOP Group, which includes standout performers like Suzuki Bassonia and Suzuki West Rand, emerged as the top-selling group overall.
Suzuki’s much sought-after Elite status, on which a dealership is scored four times a year, went to Suzuki Gezina, Suzuki Kenilworth, Suzuki Alberton, Suzuki West Rand, Suzuki Rivonia, Suzuki N1 City, and Suzuki Fourways.
This year, Zaynul Mohamed of Suzuki Umhlanga was named Top Technician, whilst Taki Kipreos of Suzuki Mossel Bay earned the title of Top Parts Manager. Clair van der Merwe of Suzuki Bassonia was named Sales Manager of the Year and Izan Nieuwoudt of Suzuki N1 City earned the award as Sales Executive of the Year. Billy Bridge of Suzuki Durban South was recognised as Service Manager of the Year.
UD Trucks Southern Africa
UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) hosted its annual awards ceremony and rewarded its dealer network and high-performing dealerships.
The evening’s most prestigious accolades went to dealerships and individuals who have consistently delivered exceptional performance across business metrics and customer service.
The top spot on the podium went to McCarthy Commercial Vehicles Alrode, which also took the top silverware in the category for large dealerships.
Accepting the award was Gabisile Fakude, Dealer Principal, who received it with heartfelt emotion. As one of the few female Dealer Principals in the UD Trucks network, her leadership stands as a powerful example of the company’s transformation journey in action.
The Dealer of the Year: Sub-Saharan Africa title went to Gerhard Rossouw of Nors Namibia, who was recognised for his dealership’s leading performance across all operational areas in the emerging markets region.
The Dealer of the Year: Medium (South Africa) went to UD Trucks Ermelo, led by Gert Swanepoel, which took the top spot in the medium category for outstanding business performance and customer delivery.
JLR
JLR The Glen has been crowned Retailer of the Year for a third time. The dealership has been very successful in the last five years, winning in 2020/21 and 2021/22, and now again
Adding to this feat for the 2024/25 title were several category wins. Without a doubt, JLR The Glen under the leadership of Filipe Carvalhal as Dealer Principal can be best described, as it was put at the awards ceremony, as “an environment that embodies compassionate leadership and an obsession for excellence”.
The other victories going hand in hand with the latest victory include Client Experience of the Year; Sales Retailer of the Year Metro; Marketing Champion; and Service Champion.
Other dealer news
FAW Trucks Southern Africa, in partnership with Laubstar Holdings, has opened four new dealerships, reinforcing its commitment to deliver innovative truck solutions to a broader client base.
The launch events, hosted at Du Preez Prag Venue in Lichtenburg (3S), Lekwena Wildlife Estate in Potchefstroom (3S sub-dealer), as well as Upington (3S) and Kathu (2S), drew a number of key customers from vital sectors, including agriculture, mining, logistics and transporting general goods.
Laubstar’s service teams are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and backed by FAW Trucks Southern Africa’s technical expertise. This combination enables fast, efficient maintenance and repair services, while the dedicated parts department ensures critical components are always within reach.
