“We saw a lot of first-time car buyers on the new vehicle side, since the lockdown restrictions were relaxed and trading conditions started to normalise.”
So says DP Spangenberg, the new Dealer Principal at Volkswagen NTT Worcester in the Western Cape.
“Despite all the obstacles brought about by COVID-19, we are thankful for the good year we had. The low interest rate and continued strong support from certain government institutions in our area contributed to our success.
“Although, in general, throughout the country new vehicle sales are battling to get back to pre-COVID levels, we also see the trend of buying down on the new vehicle side or looking for an alternative on the used car side,” DP says.
DP says the Volkswagen Polo and Polo Vivo are excellent sellers and constantly in demand. On the commercial side of the Volkswagen business, he says the Amarok had a strong showing and especially the last two months have seen a keen interest in the popular bakkie range.
With strict lockdown still in place in some countries, the supply chain is seriously interrupted, and stock of certain models is difficult to come by, according to him.
“Getting VW Tiguans is a challenge, but fortunately a new range is only a few months away and some prospective buyers are willing to hang on a bit and wait for the new model. There are also customers who settle for similar offerings like our T-Roc and even the T-Cross.
“Some customers opt for a good used vehicle although stock availability is a challenge owing to the lack of new vehicles sales that have an influence on what you can get on the used side,” DP says.
He tells Dealerfloor their predominant business area stretches over a 150 km radius around Worcester up to Swellendam, the Koue Bokkeveld and Ceres. There are also two Volkswagen dealers belonging to the NTT Motor Group in Stellenbosch and Paarl. The NTT Motor Group has more than 40 dealership representing different brands across the country. He says the Worcester dealership will be revamped in 2022 for a fresher look.
DP (Daniël Petrus) was recently appointed as the new Dealer Principal. He has been with the dealership since 2007 in different capacities and was born and bred in Groblersdal in Limpopo. He moved to Worcester at a young age where he was involved in the IT industry before joining the motor retail business. In his spare time DP enjoys mountain biking and motorsport.
Volvo Trucks South Africa delivered the first of nine new electric trucks that will be added to DSV’s (an international supply-chain operator) local fleet over the next few months.
Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) has unveiled two striking prototypes, the GR GT and GR GT3, signalling a transformative chapter in the brand’s pursuit of performance and motorsport excellence.
Australia’s growing love affair with oversized bakkies (or Utes as they are known Down Under) has sparked a fresh safety review by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program). This time, it is not just about surviving a crash, but avoiding one altogether.
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I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
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