Staff costs are the largest overhead in many dealerships. Whilst simply comparing the costs over different periods will give you a broad idea of where the costs are, it will not give you much information on the efficiency of your non-GP generating staff.
Whilst technicians’ and salespersons’ productivity are well understood and managed, the so-called “nonproductive” staff are often employed based on industry norms or historical dealership structure.
Here are some measurements that you can use to help you understand where your dealership stands – this should be done over an extended period so that valid trends can be established.
Unit sales per sales department admin staff member – the price of vehicles has increased dramatically as has GP in most cases, but the invoicing process has not changed.
Workshop invoices per costing clerk – how has this changed over time? Are there any factors that you think could have affected this positively or negatively?
Parts delivery drivers per R100 000 wholesale parts turnover (delivered parts to offsite clients). Parts prices have increased enormously, and looking only at the salary cost of drivers as a percentage of GP will not deliver a meaningful result.
Debtors and creditors accounts per debtor and creditors clerk. An added measure could also be invoices per debtors and creditors accounts per clerk. A substantial number of different accounts with a few transactions per account will be more admin intensive than a few debtors accounts with more invoices per account.
These are only a few examples as your staffing structure is different in every dealership. If you are part of a group, it will be interesting to compare your dealership to other dealerships in your group.
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.
GWM has expanded its local SUV line-up with the introduction of the all-new Haval H7. Replacing the outgoing model, the newcomer blends boxy styling, advanced technology and a choice of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, giving buyers a versatile family SUV with genuine all-terrain credentials.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
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.
