Mahindra South Africa, a completely owned subsidiary of India's leading utility vehicle manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Limited, has announced that it has increased the number of retail outlets in the region. The company has also affirmed that the recently launched SsangYong models have helped it in recording a sharp surge in total vehicle sales in South Africa during the 2012 calendar year. As per reports, Mahindra South Africa witnessed a 118 per cent climb up in sales of its products under Mahindra and SsangYong badging in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) and passenger car segments last year.
Expressing his delight on the impressive sales recorded by the company in the region in 2012, Ashok Thakur, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mahindra South Africa, was quoted as saying, “We are very proud of our achievements in 2012 as it was a very busy period for us as we added in SsangYong products to our line-up in April. We also launched new models and expanded our dealer footprint to 59 dealers, which includes several outside the borders of South Africa.”
Evidently, the South African auto market has embraced Mahindra and SsangYong products with both hands, which is quite incredible as the company entered the region just nine years back. Thakur also highlighted the fact that Mahindra had devised a successful turnaround strategy for South Africa, which helped the company in registering impressive sales growth after the recession and economic troubles of 2008-09 fiscal. The company regularly launched new models along with several special edition versions as well, which came handy towards its brand development and awareness strategy in the South African auto market.
Commenting on the efforts company made towards winning the South African audience, Thakur said, “In addition, big improvements have been made in supporting and training the dealers to ensure better parts availability and to improve all levels of customer satisfaction in terms of both sales and after-sales service. What all this means is that Mahindra South Africa is determined to become an increasingly significant player in the Southern African region.”
Thakur further added, “We believe the combination of upcoming new and revised models, a growing and strengthening dealer network with an expanding area of responsibility, as well as a motivated management team we are very confident about the future of our company.”
Reportedly, Mahindra has also expanded its presence in several sub-Saharan African nations, such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia. The company exports its passenger vehicles and LCVs to the aforementioned automobile markets.
