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, who 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, Fakude’s 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.

This year’s event was given added global significance by the presence of Koichi Ito, President and CEO of UD Trucks Corporation, who visited South Africa for the second time. “Southern Africa continues to be a beacon of strength for UD Trucks internationally,” said Ito. “It’s inspiring to witness the dedication, innovation and transformation taking place here — this region truly lives our brand promise of Going the Extra Mile,” he says.

A major highlight of this year’s awards was the introduction of a new marketing category, recognising dealerships that played a pivotal role in growing brand awareness and promoting the UD brand across their local markets. This strategic addition reflects the company’s commitment to empowering dealerships not just to sell and service trucks, but also to build long-lasting brand equity in their communities.

Despite a challenging operating environment, UD Trucks Southern Africa achieved strong results in 2024, driven by a robust product offering, commitment to retail excellence and a relentless focus on customer needs.

A notable achievement in 2024 was the exceptional growth in UD Service Agreements, with one of every two trucks sold now covered, improving uptime and delivering peace of mind to fleet operators.

“Our dealers continue to raise the bar in customer service, business innovation and brand advocacy,” says Filip van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa. “The awards are not just about recognising results — they’re about honouring the spirit of excellence, adaptability and teamwork that defines our network. As we look to the future, we remain focused on smart logistics solutions, sustainability and helping our customers succeed.”

Fabrice Gorlier, Senior Vice President of UD Trucks International Sales, adds that Southern Africa continues to stand out as one of UD Trucks’ strongest international markets. “The achievements of the dealer network further reinforce our commitment to retail excellence, quality products and comprehensive customer support. Our dealer partners are key to the brand’s success and growth in the region.”

• The UD Trucks’ dealer footprint is now over 49 locations across Southern Africa.