“An award like this says we are doing something right across all aspects important to Stellantis,” says Hendrik de Beer, Dealer Principal of Westvaal Klerksdorp. The dealership also includes other independent brands like Isuzu and Honda.

“We put in a huge effort to increase the French brands’ (Peugeot, Citroën, and now also Opel) footprint, not only in North West, but as far afield as the Northern Cape. We only sell the three passenger car brand in the Stellantis stable at the dealership.

Although the brands are especially popular in more metropolitan areas, we believe there is much more traction to be gained in places like Klerksdorp, and we do a number of sales outside our traditional area of operations.

“Selling locally is the number one prize as you get the vehicles back in your after-sales department and then of course there are trade-ins on any new vehicle sold, which are just as important to us. Used cars are the bread and butter of many dealerships.

“Klerksdorp must have one of the largest number of used car dealers of any town. For us, good quality trade-ins are import. To make a sale is a fine balancing act between discount on new vehicles and a good trade-in price. We sell the majority of our used vehicles across the country,” Hendrik tells Dealerfloor.

Hendrik says on the Isuzu side business is good, but the unpredictability in terms of model availability owing to the ongoing crisis in the supply of certain electronic parts across the world, still hampers business to a certain extent.

In terms of Honda “putting money on the bonnet to move metal” so to speak, remains a good proposition as it competes in a very tough price segment. “There is a strong demand for products in the R250 000 band. Many manufactures’ offerings move above this price line with inflation, stock supply, the depreciation of our rand and increased interest rates all contributing to this stark reality,” he says.

The volatility might indeed affect different kinds of business in various ways, Hendrik says. Although, as a car dealership, we are also affected by load-shedding, the ramifications stretch must further that just our daily operations with or without electricity.

“Some corporate clients spend thousands and in some cases hundreds of thousands of rand to keep their businesses going. Think, for example, about places like supermarkets. That is money out of circulation to potentially buy new vehicles from us or any other dealership for that matter,” he says.

Hendrik tells us that at dealership level they go out of their way to make a deal happen for a client. “I believe first impressions last, and our original contact with a potential client must stick with the client. It is also important to form a relationship with clients in order to become aware of their mobility needs.

“Going through a process with a client might take long from first contact to handing over the keys. It is, however, the essential process laying down the foundation for future relationships with respect to retaining the customer for your after-sales service and repeat business when buying a vehicle again,” Hendrik says.