UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) hosted its 2025 Annual Dealer Conference (ADC) at the prestigious Zimbali Hotel in Durban on 06 June. Held under the compelling theme “Excellence Beyond Limits,” the event brought together key stakeholders from across the dealer network to honor high-performing dealerships that delivered exceptional business results in 2024 – a year marked by continued resilience, customer commitment, and strategic growth.
This year’s event was given added global significance by the presence of Koichi Ito, President and CEO of UD Trucks Corporation, who visited South Africa for the second time. His attendance highlighted the region’s critical importance to the global UD Trucks organization and reinforced the company’s long-term commitment to the Southern African market. “Southern Africa continues to be a beacon of strength for UD Trucks internationally,” said Ito. “It’s inspiring to witness the dedication, innovation, and transformation taking place here — this region truly lives our brand promise of Going the Extra Mile.”
Recognizing transformation, innovation and marketing impact
A major highlight of this year’s awards was the introduction of a new marketing category, recognizing dealerships that played a pivotal role in growing brand awareness and promoting the UD brand across their local markets. This strategic addition reflects the company’s commitment to empowering dealerships not just to sell and service trucks, but also to build long-lasting brand equity in their communities.
In total, were presented, covering excellence in Sales, Parts, Service, Connected Services, and now, Marketing.
Top Honors: Celebrating game-changers in the dealer network
The evening’s most prestigious accolades went to dealerships and individuals who have consistently delivered exceptional performance across business metrics and customer service:
- Dealer of the Year – Sub-Saharan Africa: Gerhard Rossouw of Nors Namibia was recognized for his dealership’s leading performance across all operational areas in the emerging markets region.
- Dealer of the Year – Medium (South Africa): UD Trucks Ermelo, led by Gert Swanepoel, took the top spot in the medium category for outstanding business performance and customer delivery.
- Dealer of the Year – Large (South Africa): The highest honor of the night went to McCarthy Commercial Vehicles Alrode. Accepting the award was Gabisile Fakude, Dealer Principal, who received it with heartfelt emotion. As one of the few female Dealer Principals in the UD Trucks network, Fakude’s leadership stands as a powerful example of the company’s transformation journey in action.
A network driving resilience in a tough market
Despite a challenging operating environment, UD Trucks Southern Africa achieved strong results in 2024, driven by a robust product offering, commitment to retail excellence, and a relentless focus on customer needs.
A notable achievement in 2024 was the exceptional growth in UD Service Agreements, with one in every two trucks sold now covered, improving uptime and delivering peace of mind to fleet operators. “Our dealers continue to raise the bar in customer service, business innovation, and brand advocacy,” said Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa. “The awards are not just about recognizing results — they’re about honoring the spirit of excellence, adaptability, and teamwork that defines our network. As we look to the future, we remain focused on smart logistics solutions, sustainability, and helping our customers succeed.”
Fabrice Gorlier, Senior Vice President of UD Trucks International Sales, added:
“Southern Africa continues to stand out as one of UD Trucks’ strongest international markets. The achievements of the dealer network in 2024 further reinforce our commitment to retail excellence, quality products, and comprehensive customer support. Our dealer partners are key to the brand’s success and growth in the region.”
Looking ahead
With a dealer footprint of over 49 locations across Southern Africa, customers can count on consistent support and access to high-quality parts, service, and expertise. The 2025 Dealer Awards serve not only to celebrate achievements but also to inspire continued growth, transformation, and alignment to customer needs.
