The Free State made a near clean-sweep at this year’s Ford Dealer of the Year awards.
The well-known Human Auto Group with Ford dealerships in Bloemfontein, Welkom, Ficksburg and Kimberley, took the top honours as the Group Dealer of the Year for the third consecutive year.
Pine Pienaar (Group Executive at the Human Auto Group) says the honours for the dealerships’ success are the result of a team effort second to none.
“The recognition must go to each and every employee at Human Auto who made these consecutive award winnings possible,” he tells Dealerfloor.
Human Auto Bloemfontein walked away with the overall award as Ford Dealer of the Year in Southern Africa for the second time in a row and was also the winner in category A for large dealerships.
Human Auto Welkom was runner up in category C, also for a second time in a row, winning the category D on a previous occasion when it was still competing in that category.
The award for winning C category went to another Ford dealer in the Free State, Motus Ford in Kroonstad.
Other accolades in category A that Human Auto Bloemfontein scooped up, were runner-up in new car sales, winner for pre-owned vehicle sales, best workshop and best parts division as well as a number of Merit Club Awards.
“I am lost for words and super proud of our team at Human Auto in the Free State capital. We do not chase awards, but set out to reach our goals. The achievement is done with a combined team effort that involves input from our management, the Ford dealer network and Ford South Africa itself,” says Des Williams, DP at Human Auto Bloemfontein.
“There is a positive energy at our dealerships, and customers take note of that. In return, our customers get the best experience possible. What makes this award even more special to us, is the fact that trading conditions were very difficult and to a certain extent still are.
“The stock issue and logistics around our imported models remain a challenge but the conditions are improving, and we look forward to a great year. We also had a comprehensive upgrade of our facility in Bloemfontein last year, which creates its own challenges, but we are now benefitting from the new space, Des tells Dealerfloor.
Human Auto Welkom’s Cliffie Cawood (New Car Sales Manager) also won the new car sales award in category C. Motus Ford Kroonstad added to their overall winning of category C, the best parts division, best workshop and runner-up in new car sales (all in category C).
Gino de Crescenzo, Dealer Principal at Motus Kroonstad Ford, says the award belongs to each and everyone at the dealership as it took a team effort to win. “We did not expect it. We knew we had a good year behind us, even under tough business conditions and were pleasantly surprised with the award,” Gino comments to Dealerfloor.
Human Auto belongs to Jacques Strydom, grandson of Barnie Human, the founder of the business. Jacques owns and runs the award-winning business that expanded rapidly over the last couple of decades.
More recently, Human Auto added two Chery dealerships to its portfolio, one in Welkom and another in Kimberley.
JLR reports growing demand for plug-in hybrid models, with global retail sales for the first half of the financial year up 29% compared to the prior year, as more customers use the technology as a stepping stone towards battery electric vehicles (BEV).
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) called on the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, to announce measures in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to ensure that a transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) will result in the reduction of carbon emissions in the country.
The ratio of used to new vehicles financed increased in the second quarter of this year, indicating a growing consumer preference for used vehicles, according to TransUnion South Africa.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
“Transformation in the motor industry is deeply complex, requiring innovative approaches to meet evolving standards and customer expectations,” says Craig Absalom, co-founder of The Cadet.
Heinie Boshoff’s (main photo) automotive career turned a full circle when he became the co-owner and a director of the Benba Motor Group in the Western Cape a couple of years ago. And he has never looked back after taking an opportunity presented to him after school and making the most of it.
Here are a few basic ideas that should have a positive impact on gross profit (GP). Most of you are familiar with them but knowing them does not mean they are effectively applied. These are areas that I believe should form part of your daily, weekly or monthly reviews.
