Newcastle Volkswagen was recently announced as the best dealership in the Volkswagen South Africa dealership network in 2011 at the annual gala dinner in Johannesburg.
VW Dealer of the Year: Omar Docrat, Dealer Principal at Volkswagen Newscastle (centre) with Mike Glendinning, Director: Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa and David Powels, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa
During the year, Volkswagen dealerships are set targets, depending on the size and sales volume; in new car sales, Mastercars sales, new parts sales, Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) performance in service and sales and Volkswagen Financial Services. Other than excelling in all major business disciplines, the “Dealer of the Year” must also be profitable. Out of the 105 Volkswagen dealerships, the 11 best performing dealerships are then invited into the “Club of Excellence”, where the overall best performer is awarded with the “Dealer of the Year” Status.
It was the first time that Newcastle Volkswagen, which is a 100% BBEEE compliant dealership, won the “Dealer of the Year” award.
“To win this coveted title requires every department in the dealership to perform at its peak and continuously work as a team to ultimately delight the customers,” said Mike Glendinning, Director: Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.
“For 15 years, Omar Docrat, the dealer principal and his team have ensured that Volkswagen customers are able to buy and service their cars with confidence in Newcastle,” added Glendinning.
The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Dealer of the Year award, which was introduced for the first time in this year’s event, went to McCarthy Witbank Commercial Vehicles.
The award for the Dealer Group of the Year was won by Unitrans for the third consecutive year.
VW Commercial Vehicles dealer of the year: Kobus du Plessis, Dealer Principal at McCarthy Witbank Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (centre) with Jaco Steenekamp, General Manager: Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Makhaya Ntini and Graeme Birch, Manager: Marketing Communications, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
VW group dealer of the year: Kevin Gilmer, Divisional Chief Executive at Unitrans Volkswagen (centre) with Mike Glendinning, Director: Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa and David Powels, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa