For the first time since 2019, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) held its first physical Dealer of the Year (DOTY) awards ceremony, where outstanding Hino, Lexus and Toyota dealers were celebrated. The event took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM, conferred the trophies on the winners.
The Hino Dealer of the Year award went to Gansen Chetty of Hino Shelley Beach. “The Dealer Principal of this dealership continuously motivates his team. He embraces the Hino Total Support philosophy in every aspect. The team at the dealership is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure total customer satisfaction,” says the winning statement.
The Lexus Dealer of the Year award went to Christopher Jones of Lexus Fourways. “A performance like this requires visionary leadership and a passionate, dedicated team – aspects that are firmly entrenched in this dealer’s DNA. It is an absolute pleasure to reward this outstanding performance and give this team the recognition it so rightfully deserves,” was the summary of their performance.
The Toyota Dealer of the Year went to Dirk van Rooy of Halfway Toyota Honeydew. “The performance of this dealership is proof that strong leadership and the right people make all the difference. The Dealer Principal has always been intentional about growing and developing his staff. He also allows his management team members to lead their own departments, resulting in a very innovative and highly motivated team,” according to TSAM.
Awarded annually, the Toyota dealer awards are based on a comprehensive set of metrics on which each Toyota/Lexus/Hino dealer is measured over the preceding year. These criteria include customer service, environmental protection, financial performance and vehicle sales.
Leon says while the evening was about celebrating TSAM’s dealers, the company was “proud to have been operating in South Africa for more than 60 years and manufacturing vehicles at the Prospecton Plant in Durban for 50 years, while we have also been retailing Hino trucks and buses in the country for the same period.”
Also recognised at the event was Glyn Hall, Team Principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing SA, for his pivotal role in the success of Hilux in the Dakar. This year saw four cars enter the 2022 Dakar Rally, including Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel; Giniel de Villiers and navigator Dennis Murphy; Henk Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings; and Shameer Variawa and navigator Danie Stassen. The 2022 Dakar Rally was, in the end, won by Al-Attiyah and Baumel, and all the cars made it safely to the finishing line.
TSAM’s President and CEO Andrew Kirby, together with Leon Theron, also presented the President’s Award to Lichtenburg Toyota (Small dealer category), eThekwini Toyota Westville (Medium dealer category), Halfway Toyota Scottburgh (Large dealer category) and Halfway Toyota Fourways (Mega dealer category).
Ford’s Struandale Engine Plant in Nelson Mandela Bay has played an instrumental role in the success of the locally assembled Ford Ranger – both in South Africa and in the more than 100 markets it is exported to around the world.
The latest Hino 700 launched in South Africa, is already carving a niche for itself in the local market. One of the operations where the latest Hino is shining is in transporting cattle in Namibia.
China updated its national standard on child safety restraints in vehicles, including laws regarding car seats. Both in China and globally, car crashes are a leading cause of death for those between five and 29 years of age. Safety restraints can reduce deaths among infants by up to 71%.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
A star is born, and he is in the Foton stable of CMH’s Randburg dealership. His name is Wayne Bull, big in stature, soft spoken with a passion for customers and his product.
Serious damage was caused to Westvaal Motor Group’s Isuzu and Suzuki dealership in Welkom when a tornado hit the town this past Sunday shortly after midday. The estimated damage to the dealership could exceed a million rand.
Supergroup Dealerships announced the upcoming launch of four new MG dealerships as part of its growing portfolio. The new locations that are set to open soon, include three on the East Rand, one in Rustenburg and one in Paarl, Western Cape.
