BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
By Harm Stavast - Commercial Director - Keyloop Africa
South Africa's automotive landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with dealerships needing to adapt to changing consumer preferences to ensure loyalty, and aftersales play a crucial role in this.
Although the car buying process is often front of mind when we think of a retailer’s business operations, aftersales are the lifeblood of many dealerships, and they are where smart retailers are focusing their efforts.
To create an optimal aftersales experience, retailers must lean into the power of technology to transform their customer relationships and deliver a seamless journey for them. Research from McKinsey reveals that, in a world where experience drives loyalty as much as price, the majority (53%) of customers consider a better service experience to be more influential than the purchase experience in the entire customer journey. So, today’s retailers need to operate more than just dealerships; they need to be running experience centres.

Technology platforms are key to connecting data and streamlining operations to create a frictionless experience. Keyloop's platform enables retailers to deliver a great end-to-end service, boost efficiency with accurate work tracking, drive upselling with personalised communication, and use powerful data to drive customer loyalty.
For retailers looking to stand out from the competition, not only does this improve the overall effectiveness of their businesses, but it also enables them to foster better relationships and build longer-term consumer loyalty, in turn improving sales opportunities and boosting margins.
Find out how Experience-First is transforming the automotive retail industry and how you can apply these lessons to your business. https://keyloop.com/

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