Selling new vehicles remains a challenge throughout the country and even a bit more so in Welkom and the surrounding areas owing to a shrinking local industry with the downscaling of mining operations.
“Nevertheless, opportunities remain, and we are making the best of it, chasing each possible transaction, delivering the best customer service and focusing on the needs of the local market,” says Willie van Zyl, the new Dealer Principal at Motus Volkswagen’s Lindsay Saker dealership in the Free State mining hub.
From Welkom, smaller towns in the region in a 100 km radius are serviced, which include places like Virgina, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman, Bultfontein, Bothaville, Wesselsbron and Theunissen, to mention a few.
“With spending power under pressure, we put in a tremendous effort to make customers aware that even a smaller dealership like ours can still compete on price and deliver first-class service like any bigger dealership in the larger metro areas,” Willie tells Dealerfloor.
“We have also stepped up our game in terms of the important used car market. Our dealership was recently revamped to the latest Volkswagen CI specification, and we used the opportunity to create separate Motus Select, VW Mastercars and Audi Pre-owned showrooms at the dealership.
“The VW Mastercars banner is used for newer vehicles with low mileage, mainly Volkswagens, with a portion of the warranty and/or service plan still in play. Under Motus Selects, we have different brands and cheaper cars, while on the Audi side, we also have good quality, upmarket used Audi models for sale,” he says.
“The sale and servicing of new Audis could still be done through us although we are no longer a dealership for new Audis. On the Volkswagen side, business is good with the Polo, Vivo and Amarok firm favorites.”
Willie says the new Amarok is slowly but surely getting traction with traditional VW customers and that the range now offers a wide variety to a broad spectrum of customers.
“We are proud of our revamped dealership with a modern, fresh and professional look. I am also proud of our team as teamwork is of the utmost importance to make dealership viable. I believe in treating everyone with respect and have an open-door policy where staff can share ideas and problems with me at any time. One true saying that I believe in, is that one is never too old to learn something new,” says Willie.
Willie joined the automotive trade in 1998, first with Nissan in Bethlehem, then with Hyundai in Bloemfontein in 2001, and he put on his VW hat in the City of Roses in 2005 where he took charge of different departments over the years at Lindsay Saker in Bloemfontein. During this time, he also had a stint at Lindsay Saker in Welkom and returned as the new DP in August this year.
“We welcome the announcement by the National Treasury to allocate funds to support the local production of new-energy vehicles and batteries, as well as related manufacturing projects,” says Joubert Roux, Founder of CHARGE.
As the world unites to celebrate International Women's Day this March under the theme “Accelerate Action”, Digi Cars Group reaffirms its commitment to championing, supporting and empowering women in the automotive sector.
Chery reached a landmark milestone earlier this month when it exported the one-millionth Tiggo 4 to global markets. The vehicle departed from Dalian Port in China, where a special event celebrated this significant achievement.
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Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.
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GWM South Africa hosted its Dealer Conference and Awards, an annual event that not only celebrated the company’s top-performing dealerships but also heralded the arrival of three new vehicles.
The Digi Cars Group opened an Omoda & Jaecoo dealership in Melrose Arch as part of the group’s expansion plans to increase its dealership range.
If treated as a cost, it simply flows through the income statement and once expensed, it generally is forgotten about after the month in which it is expensed. From a tax and accounting perspective it is processed as an expense and when one needs to cut expenses, it is often one of the first expenses to be reduced.
