A strong regional dealer network is one of the biggest competitive advantages for any commercial vehicle brand whose operations extend beyond the borders of South Africa. Aside from selling trucks, high-performing dealers and importers strengthen aftersales support, technical capability, parts availability and customer uptime across markets. A case in point is Nors Namibia whose performance at the 2026 UD Trucks Southern Africa Annual Importer and Dealer Conference demonstrates how operational excellence at dealer level can help drive a brand’s continental growth ambitions.

Nors Namibia emerged as the standout performer at the UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) Annual Importer and Dealer Conference (ADC) 2026, earning the coveted SSA Importer of the Year title after an exceptional performance across multiple award categories.

This year’s event marked an important milestone for UD Trucks Southern Africa, with the opening day dedicated exclusively to Sub-Saharan African markets for the first time – highlighting the strategic importance of the region within the company’s long-term growth plans.

Dominating the awards
Nors Namibia received seven award nominations and secured five major category wins, underlining the depth of expertise across its operation. The awards included:

• Technician of the Year – Januarie

• Driver Trainer of the Year – Ronald Zaahl

• Parts Sales Executive of the Year – Arno Smit

• Special Recognition Award – Lo-Nette Kotze

• Service Dealer of the Year – Nors Namibia (Jaco van Vuuren)

The dealership also claimed the conference’s highest regional honour, SSA Importer of the Year, accepted by dealer principal Gerhard Rossouw.

Accepting the award, Rossouw said the achievement reflected the commitment of the entire organisation: “This recognition belongs to every member of the Nors Namibia team. The awards may carry individual names, but they represent the commitment, dedication and teamwork of an entire organisation.

“We have built a culture where people support one another, challenge each other to improve and remain focused on delivering the best possible experience for our customers. Winning Importer of the Year is a proud moment for us, but more importantly, it motivates us to continue raising the bar.”

The breadth of awards reflects consistent performance across technical capability, customer support, training, parts sales and aftersales service – demonstrating the value of a fully aligned dealership focused on customer success.

Setting the regional standard
Filip Van den Heede, managing director of UD Trucks Southern Africa, said Nors Namibia had established a benchmark for the company’s importer network.

“Nors Namibia’s performance exemplifies what is possible when our importers are united by a clear purpose and a relentless focus on customer success. Their achievements across multiple categories demonstrate operational excellence, strong leadership and an unwavering commitment to the UD Trucks brand. They have established themselves as a benchmark for dealer excellence across our SSA markets,” he stated.

Graham Kolm, general manager: SSA markets at UD Trucks Southern Africa, said the dealership’s results illustrated what could be achieved through collaboration and customer focus: “Nors Namibia has shown what excellence looks like in practice. Their success is the result of a highly engaged team that understands the importance of collaboration and customer-centricity.

“To achieve seven nominations and convert five of those into wins is an outstanding accomplishment. They have firmly established themselves as one of the leading dealerships within our SSA importer network and continue to inspire others across the region.”

The conference also reinforced the growing importance of Africa within UD Trucks’ international growth strategy, with dedicated sessions encouraging knowledge sharing and closer collaboration between importers across the continent.

Fabrice Gorlier, senior vice president: International Sales at UD Trucks, said strong partners such as Nors Namibia would play a central role in the company’s future expansion: “The future growth of UD Trucks in Africa will be built through strong partnerships, operational excellence and a commitment to delivering value to customers.

“Nors Namibia’s achievements demonstrate the impact that dedicated teams can have when they embrace innovation, collaboration and a shared vision for success. They are helping shape the future of our business in the region.”

Editor’s comment: As UD Trucks expands its presence across Sub-Saharan Africa, Nors Namibia’s exemplary benchmarks will serve as a vital blueprint for new UD Trucks dealerships. Its performance demonstrates that investment in people and customer service remains a critical differentiator in a growing and increasingly competitive market. Congratulations to the Nors Namibia team!

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