
Asian brands, EVs dominate 2025 Best Buy Awards
The 2025 Best By Awards, announced by Kelley Blue Book, reflect the rapidly shifting landscape of the automotive market not only in the USA, but also elsewhere.
- Industry News
- 17 April 2025
Twelve awards across seven award categories were handed out at the Daimler Truck Southern Africa Dealer of the Year awards with Ronnies Commercial Vehicles East London scooping up the top accolades.
In addition, and for the first time, Ronnies Motors Commercial Vehicles was also recognised as the Daimler Truck Overseas (DTO) EliteClass winner for Southern Africa and will represent the region at the Global EliteClub Awards in Germany later in 2024.
The DTO EliteClub global partner’s recognition programme aims to recognise and award the highest performance across the entire DTO network, including regional centres: Australia, Central Africa, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, Southern Africa and East Asia, for being one of the pillars for sustainable success.
“A massive congratulations to Ronnies Commercial Vehicles East London and its entire team for walking away with the most prestigious award of the evening: Overall 2023 Dealer of the Year and for being Southern Africa’s first DTO EliteClass winner. Your commitment to excellence did not go unnoticed and fortune favoured the bravery, resilience and determination you displayed in 2023. Congratulations to all other nominees and winners, collectively we set the benchmark for the local commercial vehicle industry,” says Michael Dietz, President and Group CEO Daimler Truck Southern Africa.
Mike Honiball, CEO for Daimler Truck Financial Services, adds: “Daimler Truck Financial Services continues to flourish and grow, it is thanks to the support from our network. Well done to all the winners and especially Ronnies Motors for this colossal achievement.”
Other award categories and winners are:
Best Retail Sales Dealer for the recognition of the dealer group with the consistently highest monthly target achievement on Retail Sales:
Best Customer Service and Parts (CSP) Dealer for the recognition of the dealer with the consistently highest quarterly target achievement on parts sales and monthly service CSI:
Best CSP & Overall Bus Dealer for the recognition of the Bus Dealer with the consistently highest monthly target achievement on Parts Sales and Service CSI as well as the Bus Dealer with the highest overall monthly target achievement on Retail Sales and CSP combined:
Best Export Partner for the recognition of the Export Partners with the consistently highest monthly target achievement on Export Sales and Parts Sales:
Best Daimler Truck Financial Services Dealer for the recognition of the dealer group with the consistently highest monthly achievement on Finance Penetration:
Best TruckStore Agent for the recognition of the TruckStore Agent with the consistently highest monthly sales to target achievement:
In the face of a shifting premium automotive market, Audi South Africa is also currently re-aligning its retail operations according to the new reality where the premium vehicle sector has contracted to nearly a third of its size compared to a decade ago, with 2024 marking the lowest level yet.
The Halfway Group has opened the doors to a brand-new Lexus dealership, located in Lynnwood, Pretoria, with Chris Jones as the Dealer Principal.
Stellantis has announced the expansion of its multi-franchise dealer network with the addition of the Fiat and Jeep brands to the existing CMH East Rand dealership in Boksburg, Gauteng.