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- Industry News
- 14 December 2025
Mercedes-Benz Vans recently held its annual Dealer and Agent of the Year Event to commemorate those who persevered and prospered during last year’s tough trading conditions.
The evening was aptly themed ‘The Power of One’, to celebrate how Dealers, Agents and the Mercedes-Benz Vans team all came together to achieve another year of success, despite the many challenges brought by 2022.
Says Nadia Trimmel, president of Mercedes-Benz Vans: “To be able to come together for this event symbolises the spirit we embraced over the course of the pandemic. Although we were unable to come together in person for over two years, what we witnessed during this time was a remarkable coming together in spirit… and we celebrate this Power of One.”


The evening welcomed representatives from the Mercedes-Benz Vans dealer and agent network - which stretches across South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana. A total of 20 winners were chosen, based on delivering excellence in all areas of their retail operations. The highlight of the evening saw four Chairman’s awards given to the best overall performers, being:
Winner of Chairman’s Award Best Overall Dealer of the Year – Sandown Commercial Vehicles Centurion.
Winner of the Chairman’s Award Mercedes-Benz Financial Services – Ronnies Motors.
Winner of Chairman’s Award Best Overall Agent of the Year – Mercedes-Benz Gauteng East.
Winner of the Chairman’s Award Mercedes-Benz Financial Services – Boland Market Centre.
Best Overall Performance Large Volume Dealer – Sandown Commercial Vehicles Centurion.
Best Overall Performance Medium Volume Dealer – Mercurius Motors.
Best Overall Performance Small Volume Dealer – Stucky Motors.
Best CSP Large Volume Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles – Durban.
Best CSP Medium Volume – Mercurius Motors.
Best CSP Small Volume – Shiraz Auto.
Best Sales Performance - Stucky Motors.
Best Sales Performance – McCarthy Kunene.
Best Sales Parts Performance – Mercedes-Benz Grand Central Motors.
Best Workshop Performance – Ronnies Motors.
Best Lead Management Performance – McCarthy Inyanga Empangeni.
Best Marketing CRM Initiative – Mercedes-Benz Gauteng East.
Best MBFS Agent Mercedes-Benz Cars – Mercedes-Benz Gauteng West.
Large Volume Agent of the Year Mercedes-Benz – Gauteng East.
Medium Volume Agent of the Year – Mercedes-Benz Grand Central Motors.
Small Volume Agent of the Year Mercedes-Benz – Malmesbury.


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SCW Group’s multi-franchise set-up in Milnerton in the Western Cape now also boasts a brand-new Mahindra dealership.