DP fired up for new Mahindra dealership

It is the first Motus Mahindra dealership in the country and will form part of the group’s multi‑franchise dealership complex, which also includes Nissan and Renault dealerships.

Martin Smit, Dealer Principal (photo), says Mahindra is popular and, together with other dealerships of the group, they are focusing on a serious marketing campaign to attract new customers and increase the car park.

“We are proud to have Mahindra in our stable and models across the range seem to be popular. We are categorised as a large dealership and provide the full spectrum of services across all aspects of the business to customers,” Martin tells Dealerfloor.

“Customers throughout suburbs such as Durbanville, Kuilsrivier, Bellville and others are our target. As I mentioned, we want to expand the brand with new customers and existing ones for any of the services we render,” he says.

Martin is also the Dealer Principal of the Nissan and Renault dealerships in this multi‑franchise set‑up. He says although Nissan volumes are down as a result of fewer nameplates, the Magnite and even the Navara are selling well. “On the Renault side the business is also performing well, with different entry‑level models that are extremely popular from the French brand,” he adds.

Having been involved in the automotive industry for more than 30 years, Martin says the addition of Mahindra, or any other brand, to an existing dealership is the secret to success for the multi‑franchise model, and that taking care of customers is central to their approach.

Martin has been Dealer Principal on the Renault and Nissan sides for the last seven years but boasts ten years of DP experience in his 16‑year career with Motus Retail. He also says the dealership has performed well in the past, winning different categories at Dealer of the Year competitions and, in recent years, was even a finalist for the overall Dealer of the Year title on the Nissan side.

For now, Martin says they are focusing on making people aware of the new Mahindra dealership, gaining new customers and assisting current customers with servicing and parts, while increasing market share for all three brands he now oversees.