Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) recently hosted its thriving Dealer Network for the annual National Dealer of the Year Awards. The pivotal event marked 45 years of market leadership – a celebration of dedication and resilience of a successful partnership with the Toyota Dealer Network.
Acknowledging the 45-year partnership milestone, President and CEO of TSAM, Andrew Kirby said: “45 years of market leadership means that Toyota South Africa Motors and it’s Dealer Network have embraced a whirlwind of many high and lows, requiring grit and agility. What sets us apart is the Toyota Way of doing things: collaboration and the spirit of Kaizen (continuous improvement). This year’s dealer awards are a remarkable reminder of what can be achieved when we all work together as a unified team.”
President and CEO of TSAM, Andrew Kirby and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM, Leon Theron, conferred the coveted 2024 National Dealer of the Year Awards to the following recipients:
2024 Toyota Dealer of the Year award: Riversdal Toyota
Based in the Western Cape, Riversdal Toyota is a family-driven business delivering exceptional performance in sales, service, guest experience, and brand leadership. The Riversdal Toyota experience is characterised by the heart behind the numbers, the culture behind the counter, and a people-first approach that defines everything the dealership does.
2024 Lexus Dealer of the Year award: SMG Lexus Umhlanga
From the showroom to the service bay, every touchpoint at SMG Lexus Umhlanga reflects elegance, precision, and an unwavering commitment to the extraordinary – values that define the Lexus experience. SMG Lexus Umhlanga has led with innovation, upholding the highest standards, and inspiring confidence in every guest who walks through their doors. Their excellence makes Lexus more than just a drive but a destination.
2024 Hino Dealer of the Year award: Hino Kuilsrivier
Hino Kuilsrivier has gone above and beyond, delivering not only exceptional performance across every metric, but also embodying the Hino spirit of resilience, precision, and pride in every interaction. The Hino Dealer of the Year award is a recognition of Hino Kuilsrivier’s relentless drive, dedication to customer service, and a deep understanding of what it takes to keep businesses and communities moving forward.
2024 Independent Dealer of the Year: Upington Toyota
As an independent dealer, Upington Toyota lives the Toyota spirit each day: dependable, service-driven, and guided by purpose. Through every handshake, every service call, and every vehicle delivered, Upington Toyota has proven that excellence isn’t about size or location—it’s about heart, integrity, and relentless dedication.
Chairman Achievement Award:
Riël Gresse’s inspiring leadership has empowered his team to flourish – fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and outstanding customer service. The award celebrates not only his remarkable achievements and lasting contributions but also the exemplary passion displayed while serving as the Chairman of the National Dealer Council.
President’s Award, Small: Riversdal Toyota
As a family-owned business with the 2nd generation at the helm, Riversdal Toyota has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to upholding the values that make Toyota a trusted name. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has set a benchmark of excellence in service delivery.
President’s Award, Medium: Halfway Toyota Howick
Halfway Toyota Howick’s implementation of a strong business plan has driven sustainable growth and operational success, leading them to exceed their targets in sales by 114% and parts by 122% respectively.
President’s Award, Medium: Carnival Toyota
Carnival Toyota produced one of the most consistent performances month-after-month and achieved this consistency through committed and focused leadership. This effort ensured that they achieved a Lighthouse status for both Sales and Service.
President’s Award, Mega: SMG Toyota Hillcrest
Despite operating in a highly competitive and volume driven market, SMG Toyota Hillcrest has achieved remarkable achievements in New Vehicle, Automark, staff engagement including a Lighthouse status for Parts and Service. Moreover, SMG Toyota Hillcrest has demonstrated foresight by actively incorporating key aspects of the future retail concept.
President Divisional Award: Warren Demmer, SMG
Warren Demmer is a true definition of the leadership of tomorrow. With a clear vision Demmer has orchestrated success across multiple dealerships, ensuring performance, people, and passion are aligned at every level.
President’s Group MD Award: Anton Labuschagne, NTT Group
Anton Labuschagne’s visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and forward focused strategic brilliance across the board has ensured that every single dealer in the group is not just meeting expectations but exceeding them.
“The 2024 Toyota Dealer of the Year Awards have been a testament of great passion, consistency, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to excellence by our Dealer Partners over the years. It has not been an easy feat for Toyota South Africa Motors to maintain a 45-year market leadership. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our dealer network. As we look ahead, we are confident that we will continue with the momentum. Congratulations to everyone,” said Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM, Leon Theron.
