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.