Business owners, sponsors, dealer principles, as well as NADA and RMI Executives attended the exclusive awards evening, now in its 24th year.

The MSX/NADA Business of the Year Awards honour the exceptional performance of managers and their teams at automotive dealerships across the country. It is the only independent validation of dealership profitability. MSX International (MSX) measures the financial performance of over 1 000 South African franchised dealers and recognises the top performers across five categories:

Commercial Vehicle Dealers; Independent Dealers (single independently owned); Listed Group Dealers (owned by companies listed on the JSE); Luxury Vehicle Dealers and Private Group Dealers owned by companies where the equity is privately held).

The overall BOTY Dealer of the Year Award drills down to three nominees drawn from the top performing dealerships across these five categories.

An additional award is presented in a category named Most Improved Performance Group Member. This award is one that has been in existence for many years, prior to the inception of the BOTY awards. Dealers in this group are evaluated over a two-year period.

John Templeton, MSX International Client Services Director: South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, and Mark Dommisse, Chairperson of NADA, presented the awards to the deserving winners and finalists on the night.

The winners and finalists:

• Commercial Vehicle Dealership - Neville Mittan (DP CFAO Volkswagen Commercial) won, with Kevin Berry (DP Alpine Commercial Vehicles) and Pieter van Romburgh (DP Hino Pinetown) as finalists.
• Independent Dealer of the Year - Toyota dealerships swept this category, with top honours going to Chris Morgenrood (DP of Secunda Toyota). Francois van Wyk (DP Ceres Toyota) and Elsabe Gresse (DP Upington Toyota) were the other finalists.
• Listed Group Dealership - This category was hotly contested, with four finalists. Stephan Delport (DP McCarthy Volkswagen Arcadia) was the winner. Darryl Govender (DP CMH Nissan Pietermaritzburg), Shawn Stevens (DP McCarthy Volkswagen Durban) and Jaun Marais (DP McCarthy Volkswagen Menlyn) were the finalists.
• Luxury Group Dealership - Audi Centre was the group winner, with Audi Centre West Rand’s DP, Louis Nortjé, winning top Luxury Group Dealership. Phillip Clough (DP Audi Centre Arcadia) and Angelo Valayathum (DP Audi Centre Durban) were finalists.
• Private Group Dealership - In first place for the third year in a row, was NTT Toyota Groblersdal with Reynier Cronjé and Karel Ferreira (BB Auto Polokwane) and Andries Stone (Mortimer Toyota Bethlehem) the other finalists.

The Most Improved Performance Group Member Award went to Willem Roberts (DP of Mortimer Toyota Frankfort). Eagle Corner’s DP, Craig Gillesen, and Johan La Grange (DP Group 1 Nissan Stellenbosch), were the finalists.

The overall BOTY Dealer of the Year went to NTT Toyota Groblersdal for the third consecutive year, with Reynier Cronjé accepting the sought-after trophy.

Mark Dommisse, Chairperson of NADA, and John Templeton, MSX International Client Services Director: South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, presented the awards to the winners.