Toyota crowned Savrala Manufacturer of the Year

Savrala's car rental members manage over 70,000 vehicles and leasing members account for over 55,000 owned/funded and 245,000 managed vehicles per annum in South Africa.

Despite Volkswagen claiming the Moty Car Rental title for the seventh consecutive year, just ahead of second-placed Toyota, a resurgent Toyota dominated the Leasing section, which helped it beat off its long-standing competitor.

Savrala President, Winston Guriah commented that “the Moty awards again recognise those manufacturers who continue to understand the evolving needs of both car rental and leasing fleet owners”.

In its 22nd year, Moty recognises those motor manufacturers who they feel have provided them with the best possible support and assistance during that period. These awards are based on the results of a continually revised and improved industry-specific survey incorporating 38 criteria reviewed twice annually among 24 of the largest rental and leasing companies in South Africa.

Questionnaires are completed not by one individual in each company, but by a panel of individuals who depend on and deal directly with each manufacturer. This results in obtaining an accurate, objective, unbiased and company-wide perspective of the service levels experienced.

The results from this competition enable each manufacturer to identify their strengths and work on areas of weakness as highlighted to them by their customers.

Areas of evaluation scored by the rental members include:

• Communication: Covering the timeous and accurate information on new models, pricing and vehicle delivery, as well as regular manufacturer contact – declined by 3%.
• Support: Assessing the quality of operational support and ability to accommodate industry specific requirements as well as timeous delivery of vehicles – improved by nearly 2%.
• Maintenance: Rating the technical training, contact with the technical representatives, response to technical issues and warranty claims, dealer support, parts availability and flexibility on Goodwill and Policies – declined 1.7%.
• Value: Covering the protection of residual value and pricing structures, under the current economic challenges – improved slightly above last year’s results.
• B-BBEE compliance: Continued to decline as the new B-BBEE Codes take effect.

The overall rental industry score this year dropped 1.4% to 57 from last year.
Areas of evaluation scored by the leasing members include:

• Communication/Marketing: Including regular visits, information on production issues, pre-launch and ongoing information.
  
• Technical Support: Measuring the technical relationship as well as provision of technical information and parts availability.
  
• Financial: Looking at fleet pricing structures and discounts and residual value.
  
• Dealer Support: Including delivery issues and aftersales service.
  
• B-BBEE compliance

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While the overall leasing score this year dropped significantly to 37.5 from 45.2 in 2014 and is well below the rental score, Guriah suggested that “there is no doubt that the manufacturers will now place more focus on the leasing members to reduce the current gap between the two sections scores”.

Rental results for 2017

Winning for the seventh consecutive year, Volkswagen took the Car Rental Moty award. Toyota moved up from its third position last year into second this year, pushing Hyundai back from its second position last year into third this year.

Volkswagen also receives the Value award, following its top score in this category on the Rental questionnaire.

Renault receives the award for the Most Improved manufacturer on the Rental side as it managed to improve its Rental score the most since last year.

Awarded to the automotive member who supplies lower and niche vehicle volumes to Savrala car rental members, the Tutuka award which means ‘progress’ in Zulu, went to Nissan.

Leasing results for 2017

By quite some margin, Toyota took the honours, followed by Hyundai in second position and Volkswagen taking third.

Best Representative Awards for 2017

Best Rental Account Executive for the second-year running was Loshini Pillay from Volkswagen, with Robert Wright, also from Volkswagen, voted the best Rental Technical Representative for 2017.

Best Leasing Account Executive was awarded to Faan Fourie from Toyota, while Ramatjitla Penyane, also from Toyota, was voted the best Technical Representative to the Leasing Industry.