Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
Two young women of the staff of close to 100 working at one of Cape Town’s biggest and most influential used-car dealerships, say they now have a future that they would not have had without Wingfield Motors.
Based in Goodwood with branches in Kuilsriver, Bellville and Vredenburg in the Western Cape as well as Boksburg in Gauteng, CEO John van Niekerk says he supports his staff as far as possible.
“We have 94 people on our staff, excluding another 25 or so in the panel shop, and most of them have been with us for 10 years or longer.”
Two ladies who stand out, says Van Niekerk, have worked their way up in such a way that it surprised even him – one from a cleaner and tea maker to a telephone receptionist and the other one from receptionist to F&I Manager.
“We didn’t do much except support them by paying for their studies,” says the proud CEO.
Michelle Brand, who left school after matric at the age of 19, joined the Kuilsriver branch where she did everything from making tea to taking over reception duties.
“I did that for about three years and became interested in accounts and bookkeeping and started studying thanks to Wingfield. I then started working as an assistant to the F&I Manager (Finance and Insurance) and was eventually appointed F&I Manager here at the Goodwood head-office,” she says.
“I would not have been here in this position if it weren’t for their help. I always wanted to go study sports management but could not afford it and started working at Wingfield Kuilsriver to try and save for my studies.
“I completed my studies in this completely different direction in March 2020 and took a break because of the COVID-19 Lockdown, but they offered me a job as F&I Manager and look where I am now!”
Violet Direko has a similar success story. Originally from Bloemfontein, she came to Cape Town with her parents “many years ago” and started working at Wingfield on 1 October 2010.
“I started as a cleaner and was later offered the opportunity to further my studies at college, which Wingfield paid for. I got my qualification a few years ago and started working here as receptionist from November 2016. And I love it!
“I enjoy working with people, but I would still have been a cleaner if Wingfield didn’t give me the opportunity.”
Violet is now married and has two children. She lives in Delft, a 45-minute commute from work.
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.
Henry Ford
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
One of the latest Chinese automotive brands to establish itself in South Africa, GAC Motor, is benefitting from the expertise of well-known motor groups in the country, like the BB Motor Group.
Stellantis has announced the expansion of its multi-franchise dealer network with the addition of the Fiat and Jeep brands to the existing Westvaal Motor Group dealership in Klerksdorp in North West Province.