- Thompson Motors Renault, Port Shepstone takes 2012 Renault Dealer of the Year Award
- Renault Pietermaritzburg scoops second place while Renault Fountains, Tshwane secures third spot
- Retail Motor Group Award goes to Associated Motor Holdings
Renault South Africa has named KwaZulu-Natal’s Thompson Motors Port Shepstone as its 2012 Dealer of the Year. Renault Pietermaritzburg (McCarthy Motor Group) has taken second place while Renault Fountains Tshwane (Associated Motor Holdings) completed the winning line-up.
Renault’s Group of the Year accolade went to Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) and a proud Ross Barlow, Managing Director of AMH Retail Division, was on hand to receive the award.
Thompson Motors Renault, Port Shepstone is an independent, family-owned dealership and a well deserving winner of the top title. A long-established name in KZ-N automotive circles, the first Thompson Motors branch opened its doors in Pietermaritzburg over 60 years ago. Thompson Motors Port Shepstone was established in 1975 and the Renault franchise came on board in October 2007. Since then, R6.5-million has been invested in its after-sales facilities.
“We are a fourth generation family business and proud of it!” says Clive Thompson, owner and dealer principal of the Port Shepstone operation. With the winner’s trophy firmly in hand, he was clearly delighted with the win.
“We had a good 2012 overall with the team putting in great performances across-the-board and their efforts clearly paying off. On the sales front, the Sandero (Stepway mostly), Koleos and Mégane models were our top sellers and on the technical after-sales side, I’m proud to say that our staff have the highest qualifications in their field enabling us to meet all of Renault’s service and quality requirements.
“As a visitor to the Geneva Motor Show, I saw the new Renault products coming our way over the next year or two and can honestly say that Renault is one of the most exciting brands I have ever been involved with.”
Congratulating Thompson and his team on their win, Leslie Ramsoomar, Vice President of Sales and Operations at Renault South Africa, said that the annual dealer challenge “is highly contested throughout the year by our 50-strong dealer network countrywide.
“Our dealer footprint is more extensive than ever and we have 90% plus coverage throughout South Africa. From both a sales and after-sales service and support perspective, the Renault brand is more accessible than ever before to customers and a franchise that has found favour with large motor retail organisations and independent operators alike.
“That said, 2012 was another challenging year for us all and I would like to congratulate our award winners and also salute the efforts of those who did not make it to the podium this time round.”
Looking to the road ahead, he says that Renault has exciting and unparalleled products in the pipeline for 2013. “First up is the all-new Renault Clio 4 which is truly in a class of its own. Its seductive styling, all-new engine, smart and useful on-board technologies and much more, will position it streets ahead of its peers in the same car segment.
“With Renault Clio 4, our dealer network has access to one of the classiest contenders and power players in its category. We are anticipating a stampede by Clio aficionados, many of whom have delayed their new buying decision until they have sight of the much-awaited newcomer,” concludes Ramsoomar.
