MOTORING IN BRIEF
projects throughout the country. To showcase the work of the foundation, in partnership with dealerships countrywide, Mercedes-Benz actively support specific Laureus Breakfasts focusing on all major sporting events. A number of sporting celebrities, together with local Laureus Ambassadors, present their involvement and achievements of their respective projects.
GMSA's HR Manager Launches Career Advice Journal for Women
In the spirit of celebrating women during Women’s Month, General Motors South Africa's (GMSA) human resources (HR) manager launched a journal containing career advice, called Sharing Success.
Inspired by the number of women in top leadership positions in her own company while attending the Global Women’s Leadership Summit in Detroit last year, HR manager, Luaneta Logie, decided it was time to share their success with aspiring young professionals within the company. “I realised how many women there were in GM with fantastic career stories.”
Logie, who is also Chairperson of GMSA’s Women’s Council, has been working for the company for 14 years and is mentor to many female employees.
Being a journal, employees would be able to capture their developmental lessons, personal challenges and growth prospects, among others.
Sharing Success has been designed in a way that the book can be replicated within GM globally. In South Africa, 1 500 copies have been printed for distribution so far.
Toyota is South Africa's favourite car brand
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has scooped the Sunday Times Top Brand award as the best regarded car brand in the Consumer category in 2016. It is the second time that TSAM has won an award in this category. The 2016 survey results were announced at a glittering gathering in Sandton recently, identifying top brands in the business and consumer spheres based on thousands of interviews.
The winning brands are voted for by consumers and business decision makers who rank them as being the best in their category in a nationwide survey.
The consumer sample for the 2016 Sunday Times Brands Awards comprised 3 500 interviews, of which 2 500 were in the SA metros while the remaining 1 000 were in the non-metro areas. The sample also consisted of 502 Clevel business decision makers – including CEOs, CFOs and COOs – from organisations of all sizes across the country.
Mercedes-Benz offers free driver training
South Africa’s Department of Transport will once again embark on its annual Transport Month campaign, which started yesterday. The initiative is used to raise awareness on the importance of transport to the local economy, including the provision of a safe and more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system in the country and also encourages participation from civil society and business.
In addition, October is also used to showcase the progress achieved in various transport programmes and projects. Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has heeded the Department of Transport’s call by offering complimentary truck driver training to support the objectives of Transport Month. This is applicable not only for its Daimler Trucks & Buses (DT&B) customers, but as well as brands from other original equipment manufacturers.
For more information, contact Megenthran Naidoo by sending an e-mail to megenthran.naidoo@daimler.com or calling 012 677 1744.
Charities benefit from VW’s Community Trust cheque handover
Under the flagship Volkswagen for Good initiative, charities and community based sporting associations have received a much-needed financial boost from the VW Community Trust.
Ikhala Trust, Ilitha Lemfundo Educational Enhancement Centre, Star of Hope RFC, Ubomi Obutsha Centre, Port Elizabeth Mental Health Society, KwaNobuhle and Despatch Football Association, Judo Institute For People With Special Needs, Komga United RFC and Wildlife Environment Society of South Africa will be sharing the over R923 000 (R923 450) which was handed over at the Volkswagen manufacturing factory in Uitenhage.
“This cheque handover forms part of the R15 million that we will be investing on CSI initiatives this year alone. It is our hope as a company that this donation will alleviate some of the financial burdens and also uplift our community in the Metro and the Eastern Cape through the commendable work done by these organisations,” said Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen Group South Africa Chairman and Managing Director.
The Volkswagen for Good initiative has a strong focus on positively impacting education, youth development, enterprise development, health, community and wellbeing.
Gumtree users vote Toyota as top car brand
In a survey conducted by Gumtree South Africa on the differences between men and women when purchasing a car, SA’s leading car maker was voted as the preferred car brand by both men and women.
For the women, Toyota was named as their “mark” of choice (27 percent), listing attributes such as reliability, maintenance, comfort and affordability when mentioning their favourite car brand.
“This resonates extremely well with our brand pillars, as Toyota’s reputation for quality, durability and reliability clearly talks to the needs of these customers,” says Kerry Roodt, General Manager of Marketing Communications.
Toyota also scored the high- est for men, with 21 percent recording Toyota as their preferred brand. Key phrases such as power, style, class, engineering and trust were mentioned by the respondents.
Jeep 75th Anniversary
Jeep is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2016. To mark the occasion, the Jeep brand is creating distinctive, unique 75th Anniversary Edition models – Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. These limited edition models pay homage to the history of the legendary Jeep brand.
The Jeep brand's legendary heritage and capability have made it iconic – well-known and loved throughout the world.
Since they were first produced in 1941, Jeep vehicles have been the authentic benchmark for off-road capability, having mastered more terrain, led more adventures and provided drivers more freedom than any other vehicle before or since.
Compiled by Stephen Penney @penneyspix2197 sport@grocotts.co.za