Volkswagen recognised dealership excellence at its annual Grand Prix Awards recently held at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng.
“The 109 teams that make up our dealer network are a vital part of the Volkswagen business. As the ‘People’s Car’, it is crucial that we acknowledge the people who contribute significantly towards our annual sales and whose ongoing hard work and loyalty help drive the Volkswagen brand. Their accomplishments and dedication should never go unnoticed,” said Steffen Knapp, Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
The Grand Prix Awards ceremony recognised 86 dealer network colleagues across 15 award categories, including the two most sought-after awards, the Micro and Macro Group of the Year.
Juraj Dolezal of the Lowveld Group won this year’s Micro Dealer Group of the Year. To be considered for the award, the Group is required to have a minimum of two dealerships contributing a minimum of 2% towards the overall Volkswagen Dealer sales result.
The Macro Dealer Group of the Year award was won by Brad Kaftel of Hatfield Group. It is the Hatfield Group’s fifth consecutive win in this category for the group. To qualify for this category, the dealership must contribute at least 8% towards the overall Volkswagen Dealer Sales result.
The coveted Dealer of the Year award was won by Lemmy Dolezal of Alan Hudson Motors who is a first–time winner in this category. The Dealer of the Year award is given to the Dealership that delivers the best and most consistent overall results across the business.
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.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Cars are the ultimate symbol of freedom, independence and individualism. They offer the freedom to ‘go anywhere,’ whenever it suits and with whom one chooses.
Sarah Redshaw
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.
