MAN Kimberley is 2023 Dealer of the Year

June 25, 2024

MAN Truck and Bus Kimberley has been named 2023 Dealer of the Year. The announcement was made at MAN Automotive’s recent annual Dealer of the Year awards ceremony.

The event, which took place in Johannesburg on 16 May 2024, recognised and celebrated the outstanding performance of MAN Automotive employees and partners last year. They were joined by numerous dignitaries and stakeholders at the prestigious black-tie event.

Guests came from as far afield as Germany; in attendance on the night were Friedrich Baumann, Head of Sales & Customer Solutions and Member of the Executive Board at MAN Truck & Bus SE; and Thomas Hemmerich, Head of Sales Area International at MAN Truck & Bus SE.

The most sought-after accolade was that of Dealer of the Year, which went to MAN Truck and Bus Kimberley. Owner of the dealership, Eldrid Harris, was suitably elated.

“It is a huge honour to receive this award. Hard work pays off! We have a premium brand and loyal customers… your employees are your biggest asset. Support and believe in your employees and they will share your dreams, visions, and mission. Together we strive to give the customers the best service they can get and keep their downtime as low as possible,” he told attendees.

The awards ceremony showcased outstanding achievements across various categories, including the Dealer of the Year, Sales Executives of the Year, Service Excellence, Customer Satisfaction, and MAN Financial Services Dealer of the Year. Each award category celebrated the remarkable contributions and dedication demonstrated by MAN’s valued employees and partners.

In addition to winning the prized Dealer of the Year award, MAN Truck and Bus Kimberley and/or its employees were also runners-up in four categories: Parts Sales Executive of the Year, Technician of the Year, Parts Dealer of the Year, and MAN Financial Services Dealer of the Year.

For over two decades, the annual Dealer of the Year awards have been a testament to MAN’s dedication to recognising exceptional performance and commitment within its Southern African dealer network and workforce. This year’s event, themed “Driving Excellence”, encapsulated MAN’s precision, agility, and unwavering focus on customer service.

Jan Aichinger, Managing Director of MAN Automotive South Africa, congratulated MAN Truck and Bus Kimberley on its achievement. “The easiest way to appreciate our employees and partners is to show and express gratitude on a daily basis. This forms part of our values, demonstrates great leadership and teamwork, and contributes to staff morale,” he said at the event. “The team at MAN Truck and Bus Kimberley – and the other award recipients – have showcased this; these awards are testament to that. These well-deserved awards serve as a reminder to continue striving for excellence and servicing our customers with pride.”

Earlier this year, the manufacturer was awarded the accolade of being a Top Employer for 2024. This was also evident at the awards ceremony, where MAN recognised long-serving employees who have been with the company for 20, 30, and 40 years. These recognitions underscore MAN’s steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and employee empowerment across its vast network.

“At MAN Automotive, we take immense pride in our employees, who consistently strive for excellence in all facets of our operations,” says Sarah Luthuli, HR and Transformation Director at MAN South Africa. “Being recognised as an Employer of the Year is a testament to our commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering work environment where our team can thrive and succeed.”

Central to MAN Automotive’s success are the company’s core values of customer first, respect, elimination of waste, responsibility, and team spirit. “These values drive the company’s strategic objectives and serve as the guiding principles to ensure that we deliver on the promise to simplify customer business though leading sustainable solutions,” concludes Aichinger.