Although we are busy with the final touches to our new dealership, we are already up and running and pleasantly surprised by interest from the public, says Leon Viviers, Dealer Principal of the BB Group’s new Mahindra dealership in Silverton, Pretoria.
The Mahindra dealership is on the same premises as the Nissan dealership where Leon is also at the helm, sharing facilities but with separate showroom floors and parts stores.
We previously reported on Leon’s interesting career as the chef of former President Nelson Mandela and his venture into the automotive trade where he became the DP at the Nissan dealership. https://dealerfloor.co.za/dealer-news/from-madibas-kitchen-to-the-showroom-floor
“We jumped at the opportunity to be the new franchise owners of the Mahindra dealership and with the two brands we can now serve a variety of customers,” Leon tells Dealerfloor. “In fact, we can support any lifestyle demands in terms of our wide product range.
“I am very excited about the new addition as Mahindra is one of the fastest growing brands in the world. We offer a wide variety of vehicles new and pre-loved and with a large industrial and commercial environment where we are, the products hit the bull’s eye.
“With more price-conscious buyers and customers who need extra value, I believe the dealership will show good growth. I am also proud of the spreading by word of mouth about the dealership as we get enquiries from all over Pretoria. Our after-sales department is already busy and with more new models coming to our shores, I am looking forward to exiting times,” he says.
Leon says they were fortunate in having a large building and it was easy to fit the Mahindra dealership into the existing infrastructure on the premises. “We have dedicated teams for both brands and in the workshop each brand has its own space.
“With and area of responsibility stretching to the N1, Eersterust, Silver Lakes, Mamelodi and Woodhill to mention a few, we have a diverse customer base with strong emphasis on businesses in this region,” according to Leon.
“I am excited about the future and with the name and support of the BB Group behind us, we are ready for business here in Silverton. The BB Group was recently awarded the title of Top Retail Group at the Mahindra Dealer of the Year awards, and the group is in the process of opening more dealerships across the country,” Leon concludes.
Charging time remains a worry for many South Africans considering an electric vehicle, who still see it as a disruption rather than a quick stop at a filling station. That view is starting to shift.
The winners of the 2026 Automotive Business Council | naamsa Accelerator Awards were announced at the recently held Auto Week 2026, which took place in eThekwini, KZN.
When Cobus Coetzee (photo) accepted the opportunity to join the Morgan Group in Upington, he had to weigh up more than a new position. The move meant exchanging the West Coast’s cooler climate and seaside lifestyle for the Northern Cape’s desert heat, while taking responsibility for a multi-franchise operation spread across several premises.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
When Cobus Coetzee (photo) accepted the opportunity to join the Morgan Group in Upington, he had to weigh up more than a new position. The move meant exchanging the West Coast’s cooler climate and seaside lifestyle for the Northern Cape’s desert heat, while taking responsibility for a multi-franchise operation spread across several premises.
Dealer excellence was recognised at the Mahindra South Africa Dealer Conference Awards Evening, where dealerships were acknowledged for their performance across retail sales, commercial vehicles, customer satisfaction, aftersales and other areas of the business.
To turn the fortunes of a dealership around from one not firing on all its cylinders, so to speak, to one of the top five dealerships in the country and now the top Dealer of the Year, is testimony to what can be achieved with dedicated leadership.
