The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) received dividends of up to N$4 million from Pupkewitz Toyota, Phillip Namunjebo recently revealed.
Namundjebo who was speaking at Pupkewitz Toyota’s official opening of their new N$11.7 million state of the art branch in Rundu located at Marcus Shiwarongo Street.
“We are very proud of this venture and partnership with Pupkewitz Motors and despite the cost of the upgrading of the new premises, NIDA still received dividends earlier this year,” he said.
NIDA is a 40% shareholder in the partnership.
The upgrade of the Rundu Toyota dealership started in June of 2021 after the realization of the need for continuous improvement in business operations, the need to adapt to new ways of business during a pandemic and customer service as key to the DNA of the brand.
Pupkewitz Toyota Franchise Director, Etienne Steenkamp says that the new Rundu Toyota branch staff are experienced and are eager to serve the community with the utmost dedication. He further states that as part of the Pupkewitz client centric approach in doing business, the staff is focused on rendering optimal customer service that is everywhere associated with the Pupkewitz brand since it first began back in 1954 as part of its service excellence objective.
Pupkewitz Toyota contracted local service providers and suppliers to complete project, an investment that made sense to the Pupkewitz group in ploughing back into the economy and local community during a global pandemic, the company further said.
The construction was completed end of January 2022.
The franchise has the full backing of Toyota SA with Ernie Trautmann, Vice President of the Sales and Dealers Network for Toyota South Africa, addressing guests at the inauguration stating that the franchise’s footprint in Namibia of 12 Toyota dealerships under different ownership has proven to be one of significant importance to Toyota SA.
He also said that not only does the country present ample opportunity and a good appetite for business within the automotive sector but the people are what makes Namibia the success it is.
“Safe to say that Toyota SA has won several accolades over the past year for its vehicles and scooped the most awards in the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year Competition namely best Light Commercial Vehicles, Land Cruiser Prado scoring the number-one spot in the Adventure SUV category and while South Africa & Namibia’s favorite bakkie, The Hilux won the Double Cab of the year,” he said.
Pupkewitz Toyota Rundu employs 22 people at its branch and Pupkewitz Motor Division employs near 500 employees.