“We do the basics, which we do to the best of our ability, every single day. We stick to our business plan, keep it simple and we work hard.”
So says Mark Torrance, Dealer Principal at Motus Hyundai Pinetown and Hyundai Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal, on receiving the Dealer of The Year Award from the manufacturer for the Pinetown dealership. It is the second consecutive year that Hyundai Pinetown has won the award in Category A for large Hyundai dealerships.
To say Hyundai Pinetown is a well-known, multiple award-winning dealership, would be a more accurate description as it has accumulated numerous awards over the years, including the prestigious global Regional Excellence award (Global Top Dealer) in 2017, for which Mark had to travel to South Korea to receive.
Mark knows the product, the dealership and the region exceptionally well. He started his career with the brand as a Sales Executive at Hyundai Pinetown, moving on to become the Sales Manager, and he has been the DP there for the last 15 years.
Notwithstanding all the negative circumstances impacting especially KZN recently, he says, keeping a positive mindset, motivating his staff and selling vehicles even with stock shortages, remain the day-to-day focus.
“On that note – you do not focus on what you do not have. We have a broad spectrum of model ranges and there are always cars to be sold. You concentrate and what you have,” Mark tells Dealerfloor.
“I believe in transparency and have an open-door policy. We talk every day, and it is important that the staff members understand why decisions are made and buy into our plan to achieve our goals. I have a solid core team, and our staff are all committed to delivering the best possible service across all departments.”
And what does winning awards mean to him and his team? “Winning awards, tells you that you are on the right track because you are benchmarked against other similar dealerships in this competitive industry. The fact that we get noticed is reassuring and we know our plan is implemented successfully on a day-to-day basis.
The dealership, which is close to a number of other Hyundai dealerships, managed more than 60% sales in its area of responsibility, which augurs well for the After Sales Department. “We have a large database, and our workshop has an excellent reputation. Our sales consist of a good mixture of repeat business, first-time vehicle owners and on the other end commercial sales largely to industries in the nearby industrial area here,” he says.
And what is next? “For us it is important to keep on doing what we do, measuring our output against the minimum criteria and achieving the goals set out in our business model. Nothing fancy, just doing the basics right, every day,” Mark concludes.
Charging time remains a worry for many South Africans considering an electric vehicle, who still see it as a disruption rather than a quick stop at a filling station. That view is starting to shift.
The winners of the 2026 Automotive Business Council | naamsa Accelerator Awards were announced at the recently held Auto Week 2026, which took place in eThekwini, KZN.
GWM has expanded its local SUV line-up with the introduction of the all-new Haval H7. Replacing the outgoing model, the newcomer blends boxy styling, advanced technology and a choice of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, giving buyers a versatile family SUV with genuine all-terrain credentials.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
When Cobus Coetzee (photo) accepted the opportunity to join the Morgan Group in Upington, he had to weigh up more than a new position. The move meant exchanging the West Coast’s cooler climate and seaside lifestyle for the Northern Cape’s desert heat, while taking responsibility for a multi-franchise operation spread across several premises.
Dealer excellence was recognised at the Mahindra South Africa Dealer Conference Awards Evening, where dealerships were acknowledged for their performance across retail sales, commercial vehicles, customer satisfaction, aftersales and other areas of the business.
To turn the fortunes of a dealership around from one not firing on all its cylinders, so to speak, to one of the top five dealerships in the country and now the top Dealer of the Year, is testimony to what can be achieved with dedicated leadership.
