Volkswagen recognised dealership excellence at its annual Grand Prix Awards recently held at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng.
Share with friends
“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.
For the Dealer of the Year Award: Steffen Knapp (Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars), Lemmy Dolezal (Alan Hudson Motors) and Thomas Milz (VWSA Sales and Marketing Director).
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.
For the Macro Dealer of the Year: Steffen Knapp (Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars), Joe Mthimunye and Mike Kaftel (Hatfield Group) and Thomas Milz (VWSA Sales and Marketing Director).
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.
For the Micro Dealer of the Year: Steffen Knapp (Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars), Juraj Dolezal (Lowveld Group) and Thomas Milz (VWSA Sales and Marketing Director).
Volkswagen is abandoning its separate electric vehicle naming convention, opting instead to align its battery-electric models with established combustion engine nameplates. The German automaker announced that the strategy shift would begin with the ID Polo, set to debut in 2026.
Europe's automotive industry has issued a unified call for the European Union (EU) to recalibrate its green transition strategy, with leading manufacturers and suppliers expressing growing concerns about the feasibility of current electrification timelines and regulatory frameworks.
South African business sentiment deteriorated further in the third quarter of 2025, falling one point to reach 39, well below the long-term benchmark of 42 points, as punitive US tariffs took their toll on exporters, Reuters reported on Wednesday
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.
“We are ready to hit the road with DFSK and will celebrate the official opening of the East London DFSK dealership on 6th
September,” says Melanie Herman, owner and Dealer Principal of the new facility in the Eastern Cape city.
Chery had a busy time over the last couple of weeks. Not only did it pull off a unique crash test with two Chery Tiggo 9s, the first of its kind locally, but it also awarded its top performing dealers during its national dealer conference held at Nasrec.
Hyundai Motor Group has officially announced Hyundai Pinetown as one of Global Top 100 Dealers of the Year, recognising the dealership’s remarkable performance, customer-centric innovation and market leadership in a highly competitive industry.