Hatfield VW Pretoria announced its new car sales manager recently, in what some may say is an unusual move, as Christelle Nel was the former Finance and Insurance (F&I) manager at the same dealership for more than 16 years.
According to Hatfield Motor Group Managing Director, Brad Kaftel, it was a logical step in Nel’s career path, even though it is uncommon for most F&Is to pivot to this new role. “From management’s side, she has been on our radar for a long time, which culminated in her attending the VW Leadership and Development Programme (LDP) and passing that with flying colours,” he told Dealerfloor.
When interviewed, Nel told Dealerfloor that the LDP was a game changer. “As F&I for 17 years at Hatfield VW Pretoria, I have to admit that I was no longer challenged. That all changed when I realised that I could do so much more when it comes to personal growth,” Nel said. According to her, spending time with DPs and sales managers during the LDP, made her aware of her own potential and inner drive.
“As a woman in a still male-dominated industry, I realised that I could bring something different to the sales team where empathy and emotional intelligence could go a long way in true customer satisfaction and employee motivation,” Nel said. “If I can give encouraging advice to young girls starting new careers, it is to never think you are not good enough, because you are.”
Notwithstanding a host of new ideas and changes, she explained that she believes a manager should be conscious of the contributions fellow colleagues and employees can bring to the think tank, planning to involve her team consisting 29 employees.
“I truly believe one must invest in people, whether they work with or for you, or are customers buying from you,” Nel said. “To put it more accurately, our relationship with a customer really only begins when he or she drives off the dealer floor with a new car,” she enthused.
Nel is grateful for the opportunity she was given by the Hatfield Motor Group and said she appreciated the fact that so many of her peers and colleagues wanted to see her succeed. “Knowing this, gives me a lot of confidence to go about the new job, but without the support of your family at home, many women are set-up for failure,” she said. “I am blessed to have that support, and it truly motivates me to make a success of this new chapter in my life.”
Great Wall Motor Company is kicking off the new year with its long-awaited new model, the GWM Haval H7. The new model will join the existing Haval range consisting of the Jolion, Haval H6 and the Haval H6 GT.
The 15th edition of the annual Simola Hillclimb is set to roar into action from 1 to 4 May 2025, but just two weeks remain for aspiring competitors to submit their entry applications with the closing date set for 31 January.
The announced closure of ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), long steel production from the Newcastle blast furnace could significantly impact the South African automotive sector, a cornerstone of the country's economy.
Advertisement
Advertisement
A light on my car’s dashboard came on, and instead of fixing the problem, I waited for the bulb to burn out. Crisis solved.
Jarod Kintz
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.
