
Absa puts data, demographics and purchase decisions under the spotlight at DealerCon
Demand, opportunity and timing – these are some of the key factors driving South African consumers’ vehicle purchasing decisions.
- Industry News
- 18 September 2025
Mahindra South Africa held its Dealer Conference 2025 in Dubai with a focus on strengthening dealer partnerships, enhancing the customer experience and shaping the future together.
The event also served to honour the dealers who represent the brand across South Africa with their commitment that continues to drive Mahindra forward.
The dealer conference follows shortly after Mahindra South Africa inaugurated its new, purpose-built Vehicle Assembly Facility at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in KwaZulu-Natal, marking a major step in the brand’s journey as it enters its third decade in the country.
The Durban facility has the capacity to assemble over 1 000 Pik Up single- and double-cab models a month, with the ability to scale further as demand grows. It also offers the flexibility to accommodate new models Mahindra plans to introduce in the coming years, alongside an increasing level of locally sourced components.
Highlights of some of the top awards presented to dealers and dealer groups at the conference in Dubai, include:
Dealer of the Year:
Large: Mahindra East Rand
Medium: Mahindra Nelspruit
Small: Mahindra Heidelberg and Mahindra Humansdorp
Group of the Year:
Large: Mahindra Centurion and Penta
Medium: Mahindra Edenvale
Small: Mahindra PTA North
Best in Mahindra Wesbank Finance:
Large: Mahindra East Rand
Medium: Mahindra Nelspruit
Small: Mahindra PTA North
Best Retail Performance:
Large: Mahindra Bloemfontein
Medium: Mahindra Ballito
Small: Mahindra Springs
Best in Accessories:
Large: Mahindra East Rand and Mahindra Windhoek
Medium: Mahindra Pietermaritzburg
Small: Mahindra Piet Retief
Since assembling its first local bakkie in 2018, Mahindra has also grown to become a top 10 best-selling brand in South Africa. According to the official sales statistics from naamsa, the industry business council, Mahindra is one of the three fastest-growing brands in the seven years since opening the plant.
Statistics from the business council also showed that Mahindra was the fastest-growing brand overall in the past financial year (April 2024 to March 2025), the brand with the strongest start to 2025 and the overall fastest-growing brand in the 2025 calendar year to date.
The traditional art of haggling with car dealers is getting a digital makeover. A subscription-based artificial intelligence service in the USA is now doing the negotiating for thousands of customers, promising to eliminate the stress and time commitment of securing a better price on vehicle purchases.
“I’m excited and ready for the new challenge,” says Brian Looney, the newly appointed Dealer Principal at CFAO Mobility’s brand-new Isuzu dealership at Cape Gate, which is set to be fully operational from October this year.
The stories shared at the 2025 Tata Dealer Conference in South Africa, weren’t just tales of sales success. They were case studies in how local business development happens when a network is built on mentorship, innovation and long-term commitment and partnerships.