Enough cannot be said about good customer service and about our dealership, especially in these challenging times.
So says Francois Robbertse, Dealer Principal and New Vehicles Sales Manager at Honda Hatfield, part of the CMH group, in Pretoria.
“The retention of customers is of the utmost importance to us. You can’t judge a book by its cover and the same principle applies to anyone walking into the dealership, who could be a potential client.
“At our After Sales department a similar situation applies. We have excellent staff in the person of Cynthia van Staden (After Sales Manager), Dennis Ncube (Foreman) and Mary-Jane Hlongoane (Service Adviser) with many years of experience between them keeping customers’ cars in tip top condition,” Francois tells Dealerfloor.
He says the importance of and the challenges on the used side can never be underestimated. “With limited stock on the new side, there are fewer trade-ins and with the number of platforms out there, buying up used vehicles make conditions tough.
“With our used car side, branded Honda Pre-owned Plus, we make sure that all our used stock undergo strict quality checks, and when a vehicle leaves us, it is in a tip-top condition, repaired and serviced. It is important that buyers of used vehicles take note of this as many dealers are simply re-sellers of vehicles no matter what their condition.”
He says they are excited about new Honda models scheduled for launched this year and next year to give the brand a boost like the new BR-V coming around mid-year and the revised HR-V that will show face a bit later.
Francois arrived as DP at the dealership shortly before COVID-19 struck during 2019. Before that he spent time as New Vehicle Sales Manager at Honda Menlyn. He started his career at CMH in 2013 on the Alfa and Fiat side, then moved to Mazda in Menlyn before his career with the group’s Honda franchises started.
“Our dealership and staff, including me, have won numerous awards over the years from different institutions and within our group, raking in a number of important awards for the After Sales department and the New Vehicle Sales division,” he says.
“And how does he feel about the way forward? “I believe in doing the basic things right, to stay positive, make plans and keep your head above the water to achieve success, survive and build your business successfully,” he adds.
The highly anticipated F&I Industry Awards 2024, which were held recently, showcased the pinnacle of excellence and innovation in the automotive financial and insurance sector.
In a groundbreaking move towards offering a comprehensive, one-stop integrated service to its customers, Absa has introduced an integrated Finance & Insurance solution for dealer partners across South Africa. This innovative initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing customer experience and streamlining financial services.
The three-point seatbelt stands out as one of the most important innovations in automotive safety. Invented by Volvo in 1959, the Swedish automaker chose to share this life-saving device with the world instead of patenting it. As a result, the three-point seatbelt is estimated to have saved over one million lives since its introduction.
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Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.
Daniel Pink
The Nissan Magnite seems to have captured the imagination of traditional as well as new buyers of the brand. With an updated Magnite recently launched and arriving at dealerships currently, there is good interest from prospective buyers of small Crossovers with a strong SUV character.
As 2024 draws to a close, I think it is pertinent to look back at some of the articles that I have written this year. I always try to concentrate on the basics and very often they are the areas of a dealership that need continuous and regular focus.
"Let the product speak for itself," says William Roberts (main photo), Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships’ Foton branch in Springs, discussing the arrival of the new Chinese brand expanding across South Africa.
