Spare parts, new bolts and a hard-working dispenser.

At Halfway Toyota in Howick, workshop foreman Devesh Saamcharan stole a march on his Japanese colleagues in the Toyota Motor Corporation when he assembled a few foot-operated, hand-sanitiser dispensers back in May 2020.

KZN N14 Devesh

The dispenser proved to be a novelty in May, before it became commonplace in dealers across South Africa.

Devesh Saamcharan using one of his foot-operated hand-sanitiser dispensers.

Toyota announced recently that its Kamigo Parts Centre in Japan will be making up to 2 500 sanitiser stands a month, which are to be sold or leased to dealers in Japan from December onwards.

The new official Toyota dispenser.

Saamcharan told Dealerfloor he built his stands as strong but as cheaply as possible, using wood and old clutch housings that he salvaged at the dealership. To this he added only a few new bolts, making it a very cost-effective solution for the dealership.

The sturdy stands are in daily use at the busy Halfway dealership, but despite being stepped on many times a day, are still cleaning hands as fast as the bottles can squirt.

More Dealer News stories

Top dealership ready to defend sought-after title

Top dealership ready to defend sought-after title

The challenge for us is to maintain our Dealer of the Year status in the future as it symbolises the effort we put in to create the best environment for our customers and our staff.

  • 24 February 2025
Jetour Alberton making a difference in the community

Jetour Alberton making a difference in the community

The team at Jetour Alberton recently took to heart the manufacturer’s pledge to engage in corporate social responsibility initiatives. The dealership visited Umkhathizwe and Nageng primary schools to make a tangible difference in the lives of school children.

  • 21 February 2025
Top dealerships in BMW Group rewarded

Top dealerships in BMW Group rewarded

BMW Group South Africa hosted its 2024 Retailer of the Year Awards recognising the achievements of its retail network across the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands.

  • 20 February 2025