Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
New future dealer principals graduated after 18 months from VW’s Dealer Principal Apprentice Programme (DPAP) in Johannesburg.
Launched in 2011, the DPAP is a leadership and development programme that aims to develop a talent pool of black dealer principals for the Volkswagen dealer network.
The programme offers candidates personalised mentoring and coaching that is structured to provide broader training exposure, using a blended learning model. It is uniquely designed and developed for Volkswagen and focuses on principles of leadership and management within the automotive industry.
“Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has invested more than R1 billion in transformation programmes in the past 10 years. The DPAP promotes economic inclusion and diversification of the dealer network as well as fostering a true spirit of transformation and black economic empowerment,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, VWSA Corporate and Government Affairs Director.
The fourth wave of the programme took 10 candidates through a development journey that covered subjects such as retail business, finance, leadership and general management. The programme is developed by Optima Training, a global specialist in development and management learning programmes.
Of the total 33 candidates who graduated in the DPAP programme over the past decade, 17 have been promoted to Dealer Principal positions whilst others have been promoted to Group Financial Director and Management roles.
VWSA has invested in transformation and B-BBEE programmes through its Business Support Centre in Kariega, Automotive Industry Transformation Fund, the VWSA B-BBEE Initiatives Trust, Ntinga Project and the DPAP.
“The goal of our initiatives is to make a lasting and valuable impact in the transformation of the South African automotive industry. Furthermore, VWSA has also provided meaningful work opportunities to over 2 000 unemployed youth through the Youth Employment Service (YES), an investment of R128 million,” concluded Nonkqubela.
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.
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Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
One of the latest Chinese automotive brands to establish itself in South Africa, GAC Motor, is benefitting from the expertise of well-known motor groups in the country, like the BB Motor Group.
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