To be crowned for a third time as JLR’s Retailer of the Year, of which the first two occasions were consecutive, is a significant achievement.
What makes it even more of an accomplishment, is that it was all done within a 5-year period – 2020/21 and 2021/22 and now again for the prestigious title as the JLR Retailer of the Year for 2024/25. Although not taking the top spot again for the 2022/23 title, the dealership still managed a runner-up position.
Add to this feat for the 2024/25 title, it was also the proud winner in some other categories as in previous cases. Without a doubt, JLR The Glen under the leadership of Filipe Carvalhal as Dealer Principal, can be best described, as it was put at the awards ceremony, “an environment that embodies compassionate leadership and an obsession for excellence”.
The other victories going hand in hand with the latest victory, include Client Experience of the Year; Sales Retailer of the Year Metro; Marketing Champion and Service Champion.
Filipe has been the Dealer Principal at The Glen for the past six years. He is, however, no stranger to the brand occupying different positions not only empowering him with knowledge in all aspects of the business but also winning different awards.
It was a similar case during his first encounter with the automotive retail industry for another brand, gaining experience across different departments and winning awards was never far away.
Filipe tells Dealerfloor that he is immensely proud of his team and the role and assistance from independently owned Southern Motor Holdings Group, of which The Glen is part, and a healthy relationship with the OEM.
“I believe the consistency, the quality of all our staff and the leadership of our managers are the main contributors to be rated as the top dealership for the brand. Our focus on our customers is the pivot point for our success.
“We speak about Customer Love and that embodies the entire journey between us and the customer. The challenges faced by premium luxury brands in this country, owing to various factors, force everyone to elevate their game and we could also see in the fierce competition this year,” he tells us.
Leadership is an important part of any business’s success, even more so when feeling with selected customers and top premium vehicles. “I believe you are who you are led by. That makes my role and responsibility even more important as I have to set the example. I truly believe I can only do it with the grace of God, and we praise him for our success,” Filipe tells Dealerfloor.
“Allow me to give special mention to Natasha King (Marketing Manager), Darren James (Service Manager), Ian Bezuidenhout (Parts Manager), David Broodryk (Pre-owned Sales Manager) in driving this success story and succeeding in their respective departments with great supporting roles from Mohammed Tikly (Financial Manager), Lerato Mabuza (Finance and Insurance Manager), Louis Visser (Retail Sales Manager), and to all our amazing colleagues for all the superb efforts, hard work and dedication in making this dream come true,” Filipe concludes.
BYD and Tesla, two giants of the electric vehicle industry, are navigating diverging challenges. BYD faces mounting competition in China and questions over its pricing strategy, while Tesla grapples with fading incentives and unsold inventory in the United States.
Nissan South Africa has agreed to sell its Rosslyn production facility after 60 years of operation. The plant, which produced models such as the 1400 ‘Champ’ bakkie, NP200 and Navara, was acquired by Chery SA. The Chinese automaker has sold over 80,000 vehicles locally since 2021 and is now strengthening its African presence.
Volvo has commenced on-road testing of heavy trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines. This pioneering solution places Volvo at the forefront of the industry, with commercial launch planned before 2030.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
LDV South Africa recently hosted its dealer conference, with representation from dealerships across the country. Among those present was Joy Zhu, Africa Regional Director for SAIC Motor International, reinforcing the brand’s global backing and commitment to growth in South Africa.
BMW Group South Africa hosted its annual Retailer of the Year Awards celebrating the achievements of its national retail network and recognising the retailers who continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences across the country.
Lifting above the currents, Orbit Commercial Vehicles Cape Town was once again named the overall 2025 Dealer of the Year and Elite Class winner for Southern Africa at Daimler Truck Southern Africa’s (DTSA) Dealer of the Year Awards.
