The 2016 Kinsey Report is out, and once again Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) finished on top of the leader board with three gold and three silver medals. Toyota’s locally-manufactured Corolla Quest and new Fortuner both crossed the line first, in categories where the standard is particularly high. Toyota’s third category win was courtesy of the Land Cruiser Prado, which beat some tough competition in the SUV sector to claim gold.
Silver medals went to the Avanza, Hilux double cab and the new generation Corolla (only bested in its category by its close cousin, the price-savvy Quest). Since launch, the Avanza has either won the category, or finished second. The results of the 2016 Kinsey Report are a clear indication of TSAM’s commitment to customer satisfaction through stable parts supply and competitive pricing.
The report is considered the most comprehensive parts’ pricing survey conducted in South Africa. The survey is conducted annually encompassing dozens of the best-selling vehicles from various manufacturers across categories and is intended as an independent reference for motorists on the cost involved to service, maintain and repair a vehicle.
TSAM is particularly pleased that its efforts to make the cost of vehicle ownership less burdensome in these tough economic times have been recognised. This has been as a result of a strong and effective dealer network and TSAM’s investment in state of the art facilities to achieve the best customer orientated logistics. However, behind these organisational strategies are committed staff who have shown that lifetime ownership experience for customers is one of their passions.
TSAM is also proud of how well its locally manufactured vehicles – Corolla, Corolla Quest, Hilux and Fortuner – have performed in recent years. These models form the bedrock of the Toyota brand and their level of success has required the commitment of every person and organisation in the supply chain. When one adds affordable parts’ pricing and stable parts’ supply to the list of Toyota’s traditional strengths of QDR (quality, durability, reliability), it goes a long way to explaining why Toyota remains a firm favourite with South African buyers.
“Our efforts since the beginning of the decade continues,” says Leon Theron, Vice President of Service, Technical and Customer Service at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM). “In 2011 we only brought home one medal, and since then we’ve made phenomenal progress. Our performance over the last three years shows Toyota’s commitment to this course – this is a marathon, not a sprint. The real difference however is the commitment of each human link that contributes to and influences the supply chain.
“New Fortuner moving straight to the front of its class, just a few months after its launch, is proof of our philosophy. We don’t introduce a vehicle and then start thinking about the aftersales experience – it is a process that started 18 months before Fortuner reached the showroom,” explains Theron. “In the case of Fortuner – and new Hilux – we’ve taken a fresh look at things and brought a number of new initiatives to parts’ pricing, availability and distribution.”
The success of this is apparent in the Hilux single cab. Despite its absence from the podium, it was ahead of most other one-tonners. Its strong showing straight out of the starting gate is particularly good news for business owners, where running costs are a critical part of the overall ownership experience.
Getting new Hilux up to speed was no mean feat: there is a total of 11 000 parts across the vast model line-up, each one of which must be evaluated in terms of availability, cost and quality, to mention only three criteria.
However, Toyota’s commitment shows in long-term objectives – not just for the new Hilux but the outgoing one too. For example, parts for it will remain available from dealers for 15 years from the end of production – which means even in 2030 the owner of a seventh-generation Hilux manufactured in 2005 will be able to source genuine parts. Not many brands can make that claim.
“The lifetime ownership cost of a vehicle has always been a Toyota focus and parts’ pricing is a major part of that. The results of the Kinsey Report show how seriously we take this. Our team really has covered itself with glory in the parts’ pricing Olympics once again,” concludes Theron.