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The 2025 Best By Awards, announced by Kelley Blue Book, reflect the rapidly shifting landscape of the automotive market not only in the USA, but also elsewhere.
- Industry News
- 17 April 2025
ABSA Vehicle and Asset Finance (AVAF) recently celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of the BB Group during a function held at BB Ford Menlyn.
The BB Group started as a one-man Datsun operation back in 1959 in Pietersburg (Polokwane) and over the years expanded its footprint in South Africa to 55 dealerships, representing 19 different brands. (Read more about the most recent addition, Welkom here: BB Group grows its footprint in Central SA.
Faisal Mkhize, Managing Executive at AVAF, reaffirmed ABSA’s commitment to keep close to the people they are in business with. “Our aim is to be the bank of choice for dealerships. Amid the economic downturn and pandemic-related lockdown, we have worked very hard to improve our approval rate and service delivery as part of driving that vision,” Mkhize said.
Arnold du Plessis, CEO of the BB Motor Group, acknowledged the increase in approval rates’ turnaround time as a contributing factor to having a record month in October. “Despite OEMs that are running low on stock, we had a bumper month, and I am proud of our employees for making up the losses we incurred during the lockdown,” Du Plessis told guests. “It seems that one can have your cake and eat it,” Du Plessis said tongue-in-cheek while cutting the cake.
Fulufhelo Mandane, Regional Head of Dealer Relationships at ABSA Vehicle and Asset Finance, told Dealerfloor
the efforts in delivering exceptional customer service are proving to be vital in the mutual beneficial success of both the bank and the dealer.
In the face of a shifting premium automotive market, Audi South Africa is also currently re-aligning its retail operations according to the new reality where the premium vehicle sector has contracted to nearly a third of its size compared to a decade ago, with 2024 marking the lowest level yet.
The Halfway Group has opened the doors to a brand-new Lexus dealership, located in Lynnwood, Pretoria, with Chris Jones as the Dealer Principal.
Stellantis has announced the expansion of its multi-franchise dealer network with the addition of the Fiat and Jeep brands to the existing CMH East Rand dealership in Boksburg, Gauteng.