Gauteng, 14 May 2024: Mahindra celebrates its 20th anniversary in South Africa with a remarkable victory, as the Mahindra Scorpio-N clinches the Adventure SUV of the Year Award at the 2024 Old Mutual Insure South African Car of the Year Competition.
On 8 May, the Indian automotive giant secured the prestigious title, with the Scorpio-N emerging as the top Adventure SUV among 18 finalists. Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa, expressed gratitude for the recognition:
“We are truly humbled by this major award. It signals a new era that follows two decades of investment in our South African operations, dealer network, and vehicle range, ensuring we offer a genuine partnership of man and machine in both the SUV and LCV markets.”
The Scorpio-N was selected as a finalist from a pool of 80 qualifying vehicles across various segments. The SA Guild of Mobility Journalists annually reviews all new models released in South Africa, selecting finalists that exemplify automotive excellence. These finalists undergo rigorous dynamic and static testing, as well as an in-depth analysis of each model’s market performance, including detailed market share statistics and customer feedback from Lightstone Auto, the official automotive industry data aggregator.
In the Adventure SUV category, the SAGMJ chose the Scorpio-N for its superior technical capabilities, leading to its victory in this highly competitive segment.
The Scorpio-N’s triumph continued during the gala Car of the Year Evening, as it also won the Motor Enthusiast of the Year Award. Introduced three years ago by the SAGMJ, this award acknowledges public opinion and support, with vehicle enthusiasts voting for their favorite finalist.
“While the Adventure SUV of the Year Award recognizes the capabilities, build quality, and refinement of the Scorpio-N, the Motor Enthusiast of the Year Award reflects our standing with the public and their love for our products and brand. For Mahindra, it is crucial to deliver on our promise of honest and real value-for-money to each customer who has bought a Mahindra over the past two decades,” says Rajesh.
Since opening its doors in 2004, Mahindra South Africa has grown significantly, with a dealer network spanning major towns, cities, and outlying areas. The brand boasts a vehicle assembly facility in Durban operating at full capacity, and a large parts warehouse with a comprehensive daily delivery system.
Mahindra’s strategic investment in its South African base, officially its second home outside of India, has yielded substantial returns. The brand has been recognized as a top performer and is now one of the top three single-cab vehicle brands in South Africa.
Mahindra South Africa’s global significance was highlighted in 2022 when the group hosted its Global Roadshow in Cape Town, launching the first concept model of its new global bakkie and the BE range of all-electric vehicles.
“We would like to thank all customers and automotive experts for their support. We have shown our commitment to South Africa and the local automotive industry, and we will double our efforts in the coming years to reward our customers with authentic vehicles that offer incredible value for money and years of excellent service,” says Rajesh.
In celebration of its accolades, Mahindra South Africa will soon launch a “Car of the Year Special” for South African consumers, featuring service offerings specifically for the Scorpio-N range. Additionally, Mahindra will host experiential activities within its Dealer Network, allowing consumers to experience the capabilities of their vehicles at the Adventure 4×4 Mahindra Academies.
For more information on the Mahindra South Africa Adventure Academies and the brand’s adventure experiences across Southern Africa, visit www.mahindraadventure.co.za.
