With 23 award categories spanning its full value chain and a 20-strong national dealer network, Volvo Trucks South Africa’s annual dealer awards have evolved into far more than a ceremonial pat on the back. In a market where uptime, parts availability and financial structuring can make or break a fleet’s profitability, recognition of this scope gives frontline dealer personnel the confidence to sharpen customer support, drive sales volumes and compete harder in their respective regions.
This year’s programme acknowledged excellence during 2025 across parts, finance, service, uptime solutions, safety and technical services – a comprehensive sweep that reflects how modern truck retailing now extends well beyond the initial vehicle sale.
Dealer of the Year – setting the benchmark
In the headline categories, Volvo Trucks & Buses Kimberley secured the Small Dealer of the Year award, Billson Truck Centre Gqeberha was named Medium Dealer of the Year and Volvo Trucks & Buses Cape Town claimed top honours as Large Dealer of the Year.
For Waldemar Christensen, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks South Africa, the awards are ultimately about customer impact rather than internal recognition.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved over the past year and more importantly, of the service excellence delivered in support of our customers,” he says. “Our customers always come first. We provide complete solutions, whether through transport solutions, maintenance or the financial products we offer. We ensure that our transport solutions meet their specific operational needs and are tailored to the respective segments within the local industry.”
The breadth of the awards underscores Volvo’s positioning as a solutions provider – integrating trucks, service contracts, parts support and finance into a single operational ecosystem designed to reduce total cost of ownership and improve fleet resilience.
26 years in South Africa – and counting
This February marks 26 years of Volvo Trucks operations in South Africa – a milestone that reinforces the OEM’s long-term commitment to the local road freight sector. Headquartered in Ekurhuleni, the company’s 20 dealerships nationwide remain central to its uptime strategy and customer engagement model.
“Through the hard work, expertise and passion of the South African team, Volvo Trucks continues to drive progress, sustainability, fleet efficiency, safety and quality,” Christensen adds.
“We are equally committed to making a positive impact in society by investing in the development of women truck drivers and female technicians, among other initiatives.”
That investment in people – from technicians and service advisors to sales executives and driver trainers – is increasingly critical as fleets demand higher technical competence and data-driven support from their OEM partners.
Dealer network as competitive advantage
In an environment where procurement decisions are shaped as much by aftersales confidence as by product specification, dealer awards of this scale do more than celebrate performance – they create a culture of accountability and ambition at ground level which translates into customer trust.
Christensen concludes by reinforcing the pivotal role the dealer network plays in maintaining brand momentum: “Our dealers are our primary point of contact for customers. To strengthen these partnerships and continue delivering first-class service, we will keep investing in our facilities, the continuous training of our employees and innovative yet practical solutions that support customers throughout their transport journey with us.”
Editor’s comment: Comprehensive dealer recognition across 23 operational touchpoints sends a strong message to the market: performance is measured holistically, not just in unit sales. For fleets, that should translate into sharper service standards and greater accountability at dealership level. In a tightening freight economy, confidence at the frontline often determines brand loyalty – and Volvo appears intent on reinforcing that advantage.
Volvo Financial Services SA leadership update
Volvo Financial Services has appointed Nina Bratlie as Managing Director of its South African operations. The captive finance arm of the Volvo Group has operated locally since 2017, providing tailored asset finance, leasing and insurance solutions to support truck and bus customers.
Bratlie joins from VFS Norway, where she served as MD for four years, bringing 30 years’ experience across asset finance, factoring and insurance.
“Even though we share the same strategy across VFS, and operate with the same values, I look forward to getting to know our South African customers and their unique local business conditions,” she says.
“I have seen more change in the industry over the past five years than the previous 25 years combined, especially in terms of digitalisation, regulatory requirements, global political uncertainty and our customers’ evolving requirements. That is why VFS is committed to bringing confidence and resilience to a customer’s operations and finding new ways to build their business in a constantly changing environment,” Bratlie concludes.
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