July 13, 2020 - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Motoring Journalist Brenwin Naidu Joins World Car Awards Panel

vuyi on July 13, 2020

Motoring journalist Brenwin Naidu has been admitted to the jury panel of the prestigious World Car Awards competition.

He is one of four South Africans to serve on the judging panel of the organisation, joining highly respected automotive journalists Hannes Oosthuizen (Cars.co.za), Charleen Clarke (freelancer) and Lerato Matebese (Driven).

Inaugurated in 2003 and officially launched in 2004, World Car Awards is a non-profit organisation designed to acknowledge and celebrate new standards across the spectrum of new passenger vehicles – with the overall World Car of the Year title being the most coveted in the suite of accolades.

According to the 2020 media report by leading research and analysis firm Cision Insights, it is the number one awards programme of its kind, a plaudit it has held for the last eight consecutive years.

Naidu currently holds the position of Section Editor for the Sowetan Motoring and Sunday Times Lifestyle Motoring titles, published weekly and monthly respectively.

The former remains in the top 10 national print publications with the biggest circulations, while the latter lays claim to being the largest-circulating English-language print title in the country. Both are regarded as household names and are further bolstered by formidable online footprints.

In addition, the 27-year-old is a familiar face as a contributor to Ignition GT, the flagship magazine show of Ignition TV, DStv channel 189, the only 24/7 motoring channel in Southern Africa.

The Sowetan, Sunday Times and Ignition TVare owned by Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd. The automotive offerings by the company also include Business Day Motor Newsand the TimesLIVE Motoringportal.

“I am grateful for the vote of confidence from the Executive Committee Director and Steering Committee of World Car Awards, the opportunity to contribute at the very pinnacle of automotive excellence awards initiatives is a true honour,” Naidu said.

“South Africa deserves representation on the global stage. It is worth remembering that as many as nine of the biggest carmakers in the world have well-established manufacturing and assembly facilities on local soil, catering to markets on the African continent and beyond.”

“Our relevance is also evidenced in the sheer breadth and diversity of the new vehicle market, which surely has to rank among the widest for any country: from the budget-focussed compact A-segment, to the most exclusive prestige marques, there are few brands that do not feature on the local scene.”

“Lastly, our country is home to some of the finest driving roads on the planet, backgrounded by immense natural beauty – and we simply must boast about our numerous iconic racing circuits, renowned on an international scale.”

Denis Droppa, Group Motoring Editor at Arena Holdings and Editor-In-Chief of Business Day Motor News said: “We are proud to have Brenwin Naidu selected as a World Car Awards juror. His deep automotive knowledge and his passion for motoring journalism will make him an asset to this prestigious competition.”

The official launch of the 2021 instalment of the World Car Awards will happen via virtual ceremony on August 26. From September 2020 to January 2021, the testing and scoring process is underway, culminating in the World Car Finals in February. This will be followed by the announcement of the Top Three in the World on March 2, with the winners scheduled to be revealed on March 31.

Since 2018 Naidu has served on the judging panel of the Cars.co.za Awards sponsored by vehicle and asset financier, WesBank. He remains a full member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) and was the 2017 recipient of the coveted Bridgestone Steve Dlamini Award for Excellence in Motoring Journalism. The accolade recognises promising young achievers, honouring the legacy of Steve Dlamini, one of the first black motoring editors in South Africa, who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle collision in 2009.

Lerato Matebese joins WCOTY 2021 Jury

vuyi on July 13, 2020

TCB Media’s DrivenMotoring Editor, Lerato Matebese, joins the prestigious World Car Awards (WCOTY) Jury panel in 2021 competition.

The World Car Awards (WCOTY) is an automobile award selected by a jury of 82 international automotive journalists from 24 countries. Cars considered must be sold in at least five countries, on at least two continents prior to 1 January of the year of the award. The contest was inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004.

According to the 2020 media report by leading research and analysis firm, Cision Insights, it is the number one awards programme of its kind, an acclaim it has held for the last eight consecutive years.

Lerato Matebese entered the motor industry at the beginning of 2006 as the then SAGMJ (South African Motoring Journalists) bursar student and in the process contributed to a vast number of motoring titles, comprising both magazines and newspapers.

From January 2007 to September 2018 Lerato was employed as a senior motoring writer for Business Day’s weekly motoring supplement, Motor News, a position he had held for just over 11 years.

Matebese joined TCB Media in October 2018 as editor of the premium motoring title, Drivenmagazine. Bringing with him a wealth of media automotive experience, he has been instrumental in growing Drivenmagazine, both in terms of reach and status.

He has been a SAGMJ South African Car of the Year Jury member for 8 years having served as an assistant for two years prior to that, and he has also been a juror for the Wesbank sponsored Cars.co.za awards for 2019 and 2020 respectively.

“It is truly an honour and privilege to be selected as one of the jury members of the WCOTY competition, representing Mzansi, and it is an opportunity I look forward to relish and cherish with due diligence. I’d like to thank the entire WCOTY Committee Directors for the opportunity, and more importantly my TCB Media colleagues for their unwavering support,” said Matebese.

Matebese is among a total of four South Africans to serve on the judging panel of the organisation, alongside highly respected automotive journalists Hannes Oosthuizen (Cars.co.za), Charleen Clarke (Freelance) and Brenwin Naidu (Sowetan Motoring and Sunday Times Lifestyle Motoring).

Wilhelm Loots, CEO of TCB Media added: “The company as a whole, and the Driven magazine team in particular, are exceptionally proud for our editor, Lerato Matebese, to serve as a jury member for the 2021 World Car of the Year Awards (WCOTY). Over the years, I have followed the WCOTY with keen interest, never thinking that one of ours would become a part of this prestigious international competition. I have every confidence that Lerato will serve the whole of South Africa with distinction, and we pledge him our full support.”

New record for Suzuki dealers in first full month of post-lockdown sales

vuyi on July 13, 2020

Suzuki Auto South Africa has surprised the market with a stellar sales performance in June, with sales figures returning to pre-lockdown levels and its dealer network breaking all existing records.

The S-Presso seems to be the perfect vehicle for cash-strapped South Africans looking for a reliable new car
– André Venter, divisional manager sales and marketing – Suzuki Auto South Africa

“All credit goes to our national dealer network, which worked very hard to reopen all their dealership floors, while meeting government and Suzuki standards for sanitation and safety. Their rapid action allowed us to meet the pent-up demand for good quality, affordable vehicles such as our new S-Presso and popular Swift,” says André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa.

According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa), Suzuki Auto SA has leapt up the sales charts by selling 1 433 units, with all but one unit sold through the dealer network. This not only ranks Suzuki 7th overall in the sales rankings but gives it a 4.49% share of the total vehicle market and a 7.17% share of the passenger vehicle market.

We will support our dealers as they continue to trade under difficult circumstances
– ANDRÉ VENTER, DIVISIONAL MANAGER SALES AND MARKETING – SUZUKI AUTO SOUTH AFRICA

The S-Presso has proven to be a very popular new model, with a massive 555 new units finding new homes in June. This is the model’s first full month of sales, after Suzuki cancelled its in-person launch and launched it digitally shortly before of the start of South Africa’s national lockdown.

“With a starting price of only R139 900, a service plan and 5-year warranty included, the S-Presso seems to be the perfect vehicle for cash-strapped South Africans looking for a reliable new car. Its design as a compact SUV, with more interior space and high ground clearance, certainly helps,” says Venter.

Other Suzuki models that have proven popular after sales restarted, include the Suzuki Swift (297 units), the Ignis (86 units) and the Jimny 4×4 (249 units).

…we have been forced to increase our support staff and available parts storage
– ANDRÉ VENTER, DIVISIONAL MANAGER SALES AND MARKETING – SUZUKI AUTO SOUTH AFRICA

While the entire automotive market has not recovered in step with Suzuki, it is heartening to see a return of general sales activity. Naamsa reports that 31 867 vehicles were sold in June, which is significantly up from the 12 874 vehicles sold in May. It remains well below the 45 953 units sold in June last year and it is a full 105 054 vehicles fewer than in the first six months of 2019.

(Photo by Cornel van Heerden) www.cornelvanheerden.com

“It was impossible to predict the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown or to fully gauge its impact on dealer health, but based on June’s sales it looks like there is a glimmer of hope for the auto industry. We will support our dealers as they continue to trade under difficult circumstances and will fully support the industry, which remains a very significant investor and employer in South Africa,” says Venter.

(Photo by Cornel van Heerden)
(Photo by Cornel van Heerden)
(Photo by Cornel van Heerden)
(Photo by Cornel van Heerden)

Suzuki last year celebrated its first ten years in South Africa with a new all-time sales record for the year and the introduction of exciting new models such as the Swift and Swift Sport. This year, it hopes to maintain this momentum by moving into new corporate offices, with adjacent parts storage.

“With the growth in our car parc and dealer network, we have been forced to increase our support staff and available parts storage. We have already identified a new corporate head office and warehouse facility in Johannesburg and will move as soon as it is safe to do so,” says Venter.