
Asian brands, EVs dominate 2025 Best Buy Awards
The 2025 Best By Awards, announced by Kelley Blue Book, reflect the rapidly shifting landscape of the automotive market not only in the USA, but also elsewhere.
- Industry News
- 17 April 2025
AARTO, POPIA and FICA are not words that excite, but any dealership that does not understand the impact of these legislative prescriptions can face severe disruption.
The role of AARTO with its point demerit system for driver behaviour will impact dealerships when its implemented with effect from mid-2025. Its precise impact and how to manage AARTO at dealership level will need to be sorted before then.
So says Brandon Cohen, national chairperson of NADA and compliance expert (MOTUS Group Governance and Compliance Lead) who spoke at the recent NADAConnect conference in Cape Town.
AARTO is the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act and points against your name, or a suspended drivers licence, could have a huge effect on both staff and potential customers alike.
In his speech, Brandon also mentioned other aspects relating to the implementation of AARTO, for instance regarding the sale of vehicles to customers with suspended licences, vehicle financing and insurance. Another interesting fact is that points can be issued against a vehicle itself if the driver cannot be pinpointed, and this would have an effect on the sale of the vehicle concerned.
He also touched on the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) and role, penalties and compliance of dealerships in terms of these legal and regulatory requirements.
Watch the video with Brandon Cohen and other speakers at the conference by following this link: https://nada.co.za/
In the face of a shifting premium automotive market, Audi South Africa is also currently re-aligning its retail operations according to the new reality where the premium vehicle sector has contracted to nearly a third of its size compared to a decade ago, with 2024 marking the lowest level yet.
The Halfway Group has opened the doors to a brand-new Lexus dealership, located in Lynnwood, Pretoria, with Chris Jones as the Dealer Principal.
Stellantis has announced the expansion of its multi-franchise dealer network with the addition of the Fiat and Jeep brands to the existing CMH East Rand dealership in Boksburg, Gauteng.