MOTY 2021 AWARDS: ISUZU REMAINS #1

PRESS RELEASE

MOTY 2021 AWARDS: ISUZU REMAINS #1

Embargoed until: 19:45 CAT

JOHANNESBURG, 21 OCTOBER 2021 – Isuzu has come up tops as the winner of the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) annual industry Manufacturer Of The Year (MOTY) awards.

Announced today at a cocktail event in Johannesburg, the MOTY 2021 winners included Isuzu as the winner in both the Rental and Leasing categories for the second consecutive year; Volkswagen took second place in both categories and Toyota came third, also in both categories.

Now in its 26^th year, the MOTY awards have become an industry standard through which SAVRALA car rental and leasing members, which manage about 400 000 vehicles per year, reward motor manufacturers for the level of service and support provided to SAVRALA members.

This year, 35 of the largest Rental and Leasing companies in South Africa each completed two surveys, covering criteria across various areas of their business such as communication and contact with the manufacturers, support provided, maintenance issues, various financial aspects and B-BBEE compliance.

To eliminate personal bias, a panel comprising employees who are knowledgeable about each criterion evaluates each manufacturer against the survey questions. This approach ensures an objective, company-wide perspective is obtained and that the results can be used by the manufacturers to identify and address the gaps in their service delivery to the Rental and Leasing industries.

Rental Results for 2021:

Rental companies highlighted Isuzu’s continued and consistent delivery of good service, which was boosted by the company’s level one B-BBEE score, the best achieved to date by any participating manufacturer. This saw Isuzu win the gold award in the Rental category, with Volkswagen moving up from their third spot in 2020 into second, thus moving Toyota down to third.

The Value award is presented to the automotive member that has scored the most combined points for the Financial section and, for the fourth year running, the winner is Toyota.

The Tutuka award recognises the best scoring automotive member who supply lower and niche vehicle volumes to the car rental industry, and Mini took top honours in this category for the third-consecutive year.

Leasing Results for 2021:

Isuzu continued their sterling performance in the Leasing section and were once again awarded Gold in the Leasing category. Volkswagen moved into podium position for the first time since 2018, taking Silver while Toyota moved one position down, taking the Bronze award in this category.

The Value award for the Manufacturer scoring the best for the Financial section on the Leasing survey was awarded to Isuzu, winning this award for the first time.

Best Representative Awards for 2021:

The Rental and Leasing companies nominate individuals for the best representative awards based on their performance and support during the year. Faan Fourie from Toyota was voted the best Account Representative in the Leasing section for the third consecutive year, ending his career on a high note as he has now retired. Soya Jita, also from Toyota, received the award for the best Account Representative in the Rental section.

Special congratulations go to Toyota’s Ramatjitla Penyane for being voted the best Technical Representative in both the Leasing and Rental categories, winning this award for the last four years.

Without doubt, 2021 has been a very difficult year for the industry, says Sandile Ntseoane the GM of SAVRALA.  

“The car rental industry has been significantly affected by the pandemic and resulting travel restrictions and decline in disposable income. Demand from our corporate, government, insurance replacement and leisure clients declined markedly since March 2020. Despite this, members have remained resilient, embracing the opportunity to continue playing their positive role of delivering customers’ transport needs.”

These challenges notwithstanding, innovation and responsiveness have seen members adapt their business models to meet the changing needs of an increasingly diverse, (recently largely) domestic customer base, expanding their offerings, building increased capability and embracing digitisation.

“The 26^th Manufacturer of the Year Awards are a testimony that, through all these storms, SAVRALA has held firm to its motto, to ‘steer industry standards’,” Ntseoane concludes.

2020 turned our lives around and changed the way we do business, and that disruption continued into 2021. It is those who can adapt best to the challenges and changing needs of the Industry, who will continue to be successful in the long run.

On social media, join the conversation using the hashtag #SAMOTY21.

–ENDS–

About SAVRALA

SAVRALA is the representative voice of Southern Africa’s vehicle rental, leasing and fleet management sector. Its members have a combined national footprint with over 600 branches countrywide. Its Associate members comprise most motor manufacturers and importers and allied industry sales and service companies. SAVRALA members provide short-term self-drive rental, medium and long-term rentals and/or leasing and fleet management services to corporate users and consumers. The sector employs an estimated 12,000 people and, as a direct multiplier effect, several thousand more jobs are sustained across the South African automotive industry.

For more information about SAVRALA, please visit http://www.savrala.co.za/ or contact Natalia Rosa at natalia@bigambitions.co.za or 083 449 4334.