Just like the branches of a tree need pruning to actually strengthen the tree and produce quality fruit, it sometimes makes business sense to “move” a part of a business to be able to strengthen its core. With this in mind, Motus Honda Northcliff recently merged with Motus Honda West Rand.
“Frankly, it made basic business sense,” explains General Sales Manager of Motus Honda and Subaru, Maxine Prince. “People tend to think that the lockdown and COVID-19 were the start of the economic downturn, but let’s face it, 2019 wasn’t exactly a great year either.”
According to her, the merge is exactly what you would expect from a successful business. “When the going gets tough, why would you tolerate exorbitant overheads when it can be consolidated at one single premises?” she asks. “We had to make sure that it is a lean and winning machine with our customary focus on service excellence and profit.”
Ever since the move, her sales teams at both Honda and Subaru were hard at work making sure sales levels were up to pre-lockdown standards. “I have a fantastic team who works non-stop on prospecting, following-up and clinching deals,” she says. “There is a reason why the saying ‘there is no I in the word team’ is a cliché, it is because it is true,” she smiles proudly.
While the economy has been tough on everyone, motivated people will always be at the top of their game. Maxine Prince is no exception. Apart from the more than 20 years of sales and management experience in the motor industry, she especially excelled during her recent 5-year management stint resolving customer complaints and conflict as well as leading diverse teams.
At the 2019 West Rand Chamber of Business and Tourism’s Business achievers’ awards, Prince was a Finalist in the Businesswoman of the Year category, while Motus Honda West Rand was crowned winner in the National Corporate Motor Industry Medium Business category and received the Overall Winner 2019 award.
JLR reports growing demand for plug-in hybrid models, with global retail sales for the first half of the financial year up 29% compared to the prior year, as more customers use the technology as a stepping stone towards battery electric vehicles (BEV).
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) called on the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, to announce measures in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to ensure that a transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) will result in the reduction of carbon emissions in the country.
The ratio of used to new vehicles financed increased in the second quarter of this year, indicating a growing consumer preference for used vehicles, according to TransUnion South Africa.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
“Transformation in the motor industry is deeply complex, requiring innovative approaches to meet evolving standards and customer expectations,” says Craig Absalom, co-founder of The Cadet.
Heinie Boshoff’s (main photo) automotive career turned a full circle when he became the co-owner and a director of the Benba Motor Group in the Western Cape a couple of years ago. And he has never looked back after taking an opportunity presented to him after school and making the most of it.
Here are a few basic ideas that should have a positive impact on gross profit (GP). Most of you are familiar with them but knowing them does not mean they are effectively applied. These are areas that I believe should form part of your daily, weekly or monthly reviews.
