Fiat Auto SA and Nissan South Africa recently presented awards to its respective Dealers of the Year.
Fiat Auto SA and Nissan South Africa recently presented awards to its respective Dealers of the Year.
The Italian manufacturer’s local subsidiary announced its top Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealers at an awards ceremony at the Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg on Monday – an event that coincided with the launch of the Fiat Multipla and Doblo Cargo models.
“The Dealer of the Year award recognises excellence in vehicle sales, after-sales and customer satisfaction,” Greg Levine, the director for commercial operations at Fiat Auto South Africa, said.
The Fiat Dealer of the Year 2002 accolade was awarded to McCarthy Germiston. In accepting the award, Colyn Nel, dealer principal of McCarthy Germiston, said: “I am honoured to receive this award for the second year running. It would not have been possible without the commitment from the staff at McCarthy Germiston.”
The 2002 Alfa Romeo Dealer of the Year title was awarded to Toit’s Motors in Hatfield. Toit’s Motors dealer principal Renier Swart said: “I would like to dedicate this award to all the staff and customers of Toit’s Motors in appreciation of their continuous perseverance”.
McCarthy Germiston was also named Fiat Large Dealer of the Year, while BB Auto in Pietersburg and John du Toit from Lichtenburg were named the Fiat Medium Dealer of the Year and Fiat Small Dealer of the Year respectively.
Meanwhile, Thompson Motors has received the Nissan Dealer of the Year award for the third year in a row. Of Nissan SA’s 125 dealers, the lower South Coast dealer was judged to have provided the best service to its customers in sales, service and parts in 2003.
The Customer Satisfaction index of all motor industry dealers – both Nissan and other marques – is measured by an independent motor industry auditor. It is based on customer responses to questions covering their level of satisfaction with the dealer in the fields of sales, service and parts delivery.
“The entire Nissan family is proud of Thompson’s Motors,” Nissan SA sales and marketing director Mike Whitfield said. “The differentiation between the vehicles manufactured by various motor companies is narrowing and our customers tend to judge the company and its products by the service they receive at our dealers. Adding value to our product by customer satisfaction is therefore a cornerstone of our business”.
Clive Thompson, the dealer principal and chief executive of Thompson’s Motors, said he believed “satisfied customers were customers for life”.
“Sales, service and parts must be in harmony in their desire to give the customer the greatest experience possible and admin must give them the full backing they deserve,” Thompson was quoted as saying.
