Finding the perfect spot was difficult, but I believe our new dealership’s unique location will greatly benefit our customers and give us more than enough room to manoeuvre.
So says Wynand Hugo, Dealer Principal and co-owner of Malmesbury Suzuki, which has just opened its doors in this Swartland town in the Western Cape.
“Business properties fit for a new vehicle dealership are limited in Malmesbury, but we found an old factory right next to the N7 main road that suits our needs perfectly. It might not be in the centre of town like other dealerships, but its location close to the N7 makes it highly visible and accessible.
“Our official grand opening will be soon, but we already have close to a month’s sales behind us. We are extremely happy with the acceptance of the brand in this part of the world. Malmesbury Suzuki will cover the Swartland region, which includes a number of surrounding smaller towns,” Wynand tells Dealerfloor.
Malmesbury Suzuki is part of the Hugo & Hugo holding company operated by Wynand and his brother Ernest, who is the DP at their award-winning Suzuki dealership in Vredenburg up the west coast. Suzuki Vredenburg won the Rural Dealer of The Year award last year from Suzuki.
The car business is in the brothers’ blood with their father and grandfather opening a Toyota dealership back in 1974 in Vredenburg. Before opening the new Suzuki dealership in Malmesbury, Wynand was the Sales Manager at Suzuki Vredenburg.
Asked if being DP is a challenge, Wynand says that at Vredenburg he also shared a lot of the responsibilities in the running of the business with his brother. We are close and speak regularly to one another, which might increase now with the new business close to 100 kilometres away from home.
“I travel between Vredenburg and Malmesbury every day. Two of our staff members relocated to Malmesbury with the rest of the workforce for the new dealership coming from the local community,” Wynand tells us.
“As mentioned before, our products and the new dealership have been popular in Malmesbury from the outset. Our used cars section is fully functional with trade-ins and some stock we brought from Vredenburg.
The fact that we have two dealerships also assist us to provide more options with more stock, both new and used, that we can swop between us to assist customers. Our product range is value for money second to none,” says Wynand.
Stellantis Middle East and Africa announced the appointment of Sizwekazi Jekwa Mdingi as the Head of Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Stellantis in South Africa.
The conflict in the Middle East has thrown global supply chains into disarray, exposing the risks of over-reliance on concentrated hubs.
Kia has taken a bold step into one of South Africa’s most competitive automotive segments with the launch of the Tasman, its first-ever double cab bakkie.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
GWM South Africa hosted its annual Dealer Conference and Dealer of the Year Awards, bringing together its national dealer network of over 100 dealerships to review performance, align on strategic priorities, and recognise outstanding achievement across the business.
LDV South Africa recently hosted its dealer conference, with representation from dealerships across the country. Among those present was Joy Zhu, Africa Regional Director for SAIC Motor International, reinforcing the brand’s global backing and commitment to growth in South Africa.
BMW Group South Africa hosted its annual Retailer of the Year Awards celebrating the achievements of its national retail network and recognising the retailers who continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences across the country.
