Mercedes-Benz South Africa celebrates their top performing (Dealer) Agents in a spectacular virtual event
Mercedes-Benz (Dealer) Agents from the Western Cape have emerged as the big winners at the luxury carmaker’s annual Agent of the Year Awards, with Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Brand Centre winning the coveted Chairman’s Award for its all-round performance across sales and customer service.
Super Group Market Centre Cape, which operates across Paarl and Stellenbosch, won the Financial Services Chairman’s Award, while another star of the event, Mercedes-Benz Malmesbury, drove away with three awards, including the Small Volume Agent of the year.
Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, and Executive Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Johannes Fritz, named the top performing dealerships at a virtual awards ceremony that was shot from the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Dealership in Sandton, on the richest square mile in Africa and next to the tallest building on the African continent. Mercedes-Benz Sandton is the flagship of the Brand Appearance Retail store.
“The Mercedes-Benz Agent Of The Year awards are not simply a ceremony for those of you who have excelled over the course of an exceptionally challenging year, but to also celebrate how we have persevered through,”
said Fritz.
Mercedes-Benz Cape Town was named Large Volume agent of the Year for maintaining its sales and customer service targets through a challenging 2020, with neighbouring dealer Mercedes-Benz Stellenbosch taking the accolade for Medium Volume Agent of the Year.
Another smaller dealer to shine on the night was Stucky Motors, from northern KwaZulu-Natal, which won awards for Best Parts Sales Performance and Most Improved Agent, while also adding two thirdplace category finishes to its impressive showing.
The friends of the brand formed a core part of the celebrations, which saw more than 5000 people joining the celebrations virtually. The awards were hosted by Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, with a performance by local muso J’Something. The guests were treated to some virtual fine dining courtesy of chef David Higgs. We also had cameo appearances by Mercedes-AMG F1 Driver Lewis Hamilton and Friend of the Brand & South Africa’s National Rugby Team Captain, Siya Kolisi.
In his final address, Fritz acknowledged the ‘can-do’ attitude of the Mercedes-Benz (Dealer) Agent network during 2020, and the innovative ways that they found to navigate the challenging operating conditions by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is easy to be good partners when times are good. But when the going gets tough, this is when true partnership shows. And we got plenty of opportunities to show that. Together we have elevated our partnership to a next level, and created a spirit beyond numbers,”
said Fritz.
Winners
Best Sales Performance, New and Pre-owned: Mercedes-Benz Malmesbury (runner-up M&Z Motors, third place Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Brand Centre)
Best AMG performance: Mercedes-Benz Gauteng West Brand Centre (runner-up Mercedes-Benz Durban Brand Centre, third place Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Brand Centre)
Best Lead Management Performance: Mercedes-Benz Malmesbury (runner-up Mercedes-Benz Stellenbosch, third place Garden City Motors Pietermaritzburg)
Best Marketing and CRM initiative: Mercedes-Benz Umhlanga (runner-up Mercedes-Benz Century City, third place Mercedes-Benz East Rand)
Best Parts Sales Performance: Stucky Motors (runner-up Naledi Motors, third place Garden City Motors Pietermaritzburg)
Best Workshop Performance: Mercedes-Benz Century City (runner-up Garden City Motors Pietermaritzburg, third place Stucky Motors)
Best CSI Performance, Sales & Service combined: Mercedes-Benz Sandton (runner-up Rola Motors, third place Mercedes-Benz Century City)
Most Improved Agent: Stucky Motors (runner-up Mercedes-Benz Gauteng East Brand Centre, third place Mercedes-Benz Malmesbury)
Best Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Agent: Mercedes-Benz Stellenbosch (runner-up Mercedes-Benz Gauteng West Brand Centre, third place Garden City Motors Pietermaritzburg)
Small Volume Agent of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Malmesbury (runner-up United Motors, third place Stucky Motors)
Medium Volume Agent of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Stellenbosch (runner-up Garden City Motors Pietermaritzburg, third place Rola Motors)
Large Volume Agent of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Cape Town (runner-up Mercedes-Benz Gauteng East Brand Centre, third place Mercedes-Benz Durban Brand Centre)
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Chairman’s Award: Super Group Market Centre Cape (Paarl/Stellenbosch)
Mercedes-Benz Cars Chairman’s Award: Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Brand Centre
