Achieving this prestigious status is no mean feat, and dealer performance is closely monitored throughout, meaning they have to be at the top of their game every day.

“With the recently introduced Triton Single Cab and the entire Triton range being refreshed plus the fact the new Xpander is on its way, dealers are excited about the fact that they can offer customers state-of-the-art products at affordable prices,” says Jeffrey Allison, General Manager: Marketing.

“Added to that, there is an impetus in the market as the COVID losses are slowly being turned around, and this reflects directly in significantly increased sales within the group.”

Mitsubishi Motors SA (MMSA) was recently the recipient of a Gold Award as the ‘Most Improved’ brand at the recent National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) awards with 2.8% improvement compared to last year.

Thato Magasa, Managing Director of MMSA, said: “The improved sales results are extremely positive, and the DOTY is an opportunity for us to come together and align our efforts as well as celebrate our business.

“We have the right product – and I am excited about the new products still to come – and we have a solid, enthusiastic and dedicated dealer network that will help us grow even more.”

According to Thato, the South African buyer still prefers going to a dealership for a person-to-person purchase. “We have taken note of that and worked hard to ensure that all our dealers’ operating standards are consistent, and this shows in the improvements we have achieved in Customer Satisfaction.

“Interestingly, 67% of vehicle services handled by our dealers are for vehicles that are out of warranty – testimony to the longevity and reliability of the product.”

• Dealer of the Year – Empangeni
• Parts - C-sized dealers (Secunda), B-sized dealers (Bedfordview) and A-sized dealers (Menlyn).
• Service Advisor - Nonkululeko Mdlali (Pietermaritzburg), Ruth Tesner (Paarden Eiland) and Sahil Rughubar (Pinetown).
• After-sales - C-sized dealers (Melrose), B-sized dealers (Pietermaritzburg) and A-sized dealers (Paarden Eiland).
• Sales Executive - Thulani Sibiya (Empangeni), Nkosi Masuku (The Glen) and Gavin Cherry (Port Elizabeth).
• Sales - C-sized dealers (Empangeni), B-sized dealers (Polokwane) and A-sized dealers (East Rand).
• DOTY Category - C-sized dealers (Empangeni), B-sized dealers (Polokwane) and A-sized dealers (East Rand).