Volkswagen Group South Africa Archives Page 2 of 2

New Directors Appointed at VWSA

vuyi on July 8, 2020

Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has welcomed a number of new directors to their Board of Management.

Thabo Nkoane has been appointed as the new Human Resources Director, effective from 1 June 2020. Nkoane joins VWSA from AEL Mining Services, and boasts extensive experience in the mining and manufacturing sectors in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. He holds an MBL and an Honours degree in Industrial Psychology.

VWSA is proud to welcome these new directors, and I am sure our business will benefit in many aspects from their knowledge and contributions,
– VWSA Chairman and Managing Director Thomas Schaefer

Nkoane replaces Percy Smith, who has held the title of Human Resources Director since 2008. Smith is retiring at the end of July after 30 years spent in service of VWSA.

The Board of Management has seen several changes in recent months. In December 2019, Rochelle Reddy took up the reins as the Director for Sub Saharan Africa, a new position that oversees Volkswagen’s interests in this region. Reddy has more than 15 years’ experience in international strategy development, most of which was gained in emerging African markets.

In March 2020, the company also welcomed a new Finance Director, Gustavo Dozo. Prior to joining VWSA, Dozo was Head of Finance for Volkswagen Argentina, and he has spent over 22 years working for the Volkswagen Group. Dozo replaced Henning Jens, who returned to Germany.

The Board also welcomed Reverend Nomgando Matyumza as its newest independent non-executive Board member in March 2020. Rev Matyumza has extensive management experience, having held positions with South African Breweries, Transnet Pipelines and Eskom. She has also served on the Boards of several other organisations, including Transnet and WBHO Ltd. She currently serves on the Boards of Standard Bank and Sasol. Rev Matyumza is a Chartered Accountant and holds B.Compt Honours and LLB degrees. She is a Presiding Elder and Pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

“VWSA is proud to welcome these new directors, and I am sure our business will benefit in many aspects from their knowledge and contributions,” said VWSA Chairman and Managing Director Thomas Schaefer. “I also want to thank Percy Smith for his decades of dedicated service and the impact he has made in the lives of our employees. I wish him all the best for his retirement.”

Jaguar I-PACE wins 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year

vuyi on July 8, 2020

The Jaguar I-PACE EV400 AWD SE is the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year!

This is the first time that the competition has been won by a Jaguar and also the first win by an electric car.

The accolade is the latest in a long line of victories for the all-electric I-PACE. It won the 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car awards (the I-PACE was the first model ever to win three World Car titles in the 15-year history of the awards). It also claimed the European Car of Year title last year.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE400d 4Matic was placed second while the Toyota GR Supra 3.0T came third.

The win by a Jaguar and an electric car were two firsts for the contest, which is organised by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists. Given the lockdown, the winner of the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year was announced during a virtual awards ceremony that was streamed live – this was another first for the AutoTrader South African Car of the Year.

Performance Car: Toyota GR Supra 3.0T
Performance Car: Toyota GR Supra 3.0T

There are a number of category winners in the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year, and these winners were announced as well.

Watch the 2020 Auto Trader South African Car of the Year Announcement

The winner in the Urban Category was the Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion. This category covers compact budget-friendly passenger vehicles that are ideal for in-town driving. Buyers of these cars typically rate practicality over luxury and performance.

The next category – Family – is especially popular. It consists of mid-size sedans. Buyers of these vehicles expect quality, practicality and comfort –with an element of advanced handling dynamics thrown into the equation. The winner in this category was the Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.2T XR CVT.

URBAN CATEGORY WINNER: HYUNDAI ATOS 1.1 MOTION
URBAN CATEGORY WINNER: HYUNDAI ATOS 1.1 MOTION

Family: Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.2T XR CVT

The third category – Leisure – was won by the Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI Comfortline 85kW DSG. This category covers sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs). Owners of these SUVs and MPVs enjoy the freedom of driving both on and off-road. This – combined a high seating position and flexible cargo space – makes this a popular category amongst the buying public.

Leisure: Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI Comfortline 85kW DSG

The Lifestyle Utility Vehicles Category was won by the Ford Ranger Raptor. These vehicles typically offer supreme 4×4 ability and can be either an SUV or a single or double-cab bakkie.

The highly contested Premium Car Category was won by the overall winner, namely the Jaguar I-PACE EV400 AWD SE. Buyers of these prestigious mid to large vehicles want powerful engines, luxury features and high-end trim options.

The Premium SUV Category caters for vehicles that offer a combination of versatility, comfort, style and performance both on- and off the road. Boasting genuine 4×4 ability without low range, these vehicles are luxurious, spacious and refined. This category was won by the Mercedes-Benz GLE400d 4Matic.

The final category – sport/performance – was won by the Toyota GR Supra 3.0T. Whether it’s a sportier flagship of an existing passenger range or a pure stand-alone model, vehicles in this category have one common trait: superior performance. Accordingly, thoroughbred sports cars are included in this category.

The South African Car of the Year trophy, which has been awarded since 1986, is the country’s most highly respected and sought-after motoring accolade. While the competition has evolved over the years (categories were only introduced recently), one thing has remained true to the contest; it celebrates and rewards automotive excellence. Both the category and overall winners are considered to be benchmarks within their categories. The 2020 competition was no exception, with many of the winners having already achieved international acclaim.