BELONGING IS BETTER BUSINESS
Here’s why…
Legacy and unity
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We’ve been representing the retail motor industry for more than 100 years.
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With more than 8 000-member businesses, our unity is our strength.
Your voice
RMI represents the industry at:
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Centralised wage negotiations.
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Various MIBCO and Industry-related Boards and committee structures.
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Various South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
committees and working groups.
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The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), defending our
industry when compulsory specifications and standards are compromised.
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The Moto Health Care Fund, Industry Provident Funds
and the Sick, Accident and Maternity Pay Fund.
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Meetings hosted by reputable organisations recognised by government, big
business, consumers and relevant stakeholders like Business Unity SA (BUSA).
Supports your business
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Professional industrial relations advice ensuring procedural
and substantive fairness when disciplining staff.
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Chairing of disciplinary hearings and AUTOMATIC
entry at the CCMA, DRC and Labour Court.
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Exceptional CPA support at the National Consumer Commission (NCC)
and the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA).
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Facilitation of a business-to-business complaint where both parties are
RMI members, with a complaint resolution rate in excess of 95%.
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Training needs and representation via merSETA and W&RSETA.
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Industry-specific products like RMI4BEE, RMI4LAW, RMI4OHS and RMI4SURE.
Keeps you in the know
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Industry labour relations seminars.
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Automobil magazine and weekly web letters.
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Commenting on industry topics in the media, and participating
in and hosting numerous conventions and shows.
NEWS
NEWS
he Simola Hillclimb is renowned as South Africa’s premier motoring
and motorsport lifestyle event, and its growing stature internationally
has attracted three star drivers from the world of Formula One, the
World Rally Championship (WRC) and World Rallycross (WRX).
Former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo is the latest high-profile addition to
the starting line-up for the 13th Simola Hillclimb, which takes place from 4
to 7 May 2023 in Knysna. The famous Finnish driver’s participation is backed
by Mercedes-Benz South Africa and ATK Esports. He will be joined by the
Solberg brothers, Petter and Henning, thanks to Volkswagen South Africa,
with the two Norwegian drivers both having achieved successful careers in
WRC and WRX.
Salo competed in 109 F1 races between 1994 and 2002, driving for Lotus,
Tyrrell, Arrows, BAR, Ferrari, Sauber and Toyota. His most notable perfor-
mances were the two podiums he scored for Ferrari in 1999 while stand-
ing in for the injured Michael Schumacher, which contributed to the team’s
constructor’s championship win. The versatile Finn also competed in the
24 Hours of Le Mans and claimed the GT2 class victory in 2008 and 2009,
was part of the development program for the Maserati MC12 GT, raced in a
number of the FIA GT events, dipped into the Australian V8 Supercars series,
and won the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour in a Ferrari 458 GT3.
The second Mercedes-AMG A45S will be driven by local racing driver Clint
Weston, who also heads up the AMG Driving Academy in South Africa. The
two AMG cars will compete in class A2 for standard production turbocharged
four-cylinder four-wheel drive cars. This is the first time Mercedes-Benz will
be involved in the Simola Hillclimb, making it a total of eight vehicle manufac-
turers that have signed up as event partners or entrants for this year’s edition,
including Suzuki, BMW, Volkswagen, Honda, Hyundai, Ford and Toyota.
Volkswagen South Africa recently announced that it is bringing Petter
Solberg, the 2003 WRC champion and winner of the WRX titles in 2014 and
2015, to the Simola Hillclimb this year.
Not content to let his younger brother have all the fun, Henning Solberg
will be getting in on the action too. The Norwegian driver has more than
30 years of motorsport experience under his belt, having competed in 133
WRC events between 1998 and 2019. He has also been a regular rallycross
competitor throughout his career, finishing second in the European series in
2014, and contesting two WRX seasons in 2014 and 2015.
Volkswagen SA is taking care of Henning’s entry, and he will compete in
class A2 of the Road Car and Supercar category in the latest 235 kW Golf
R, along with VW Motorsport’s local racing drivers, Jonathan Mogotsi and
Daniel Rowe, in identical cars.
This has certainly added great interest in the class, with six of the hottest
four-wheel drive hatchbacks currently on the market proving their mettle
on the tight and twisty 1.9 km Simola Hill course. The class win and ulti-
mate bragging rights are up for grabs amongst the two international stars,
Salo and Henning Solberg, and the local racers comprising Weston, Mogotsi,
Rowe and Nathi Msimanga in the exciting new Toyota GR Corolla.
Tickets can be purchased on the event website (www.simolahillclimb.
com), with the prices for General Entry remaining unchanged from last year.
Upgrades are available for Pit Access, Turn 2 Grandstand seating and VIP
Parking.
Star international drivers raise
the bar for 2023 Simola Hillclimb
New leadership announced
for Nissan Africa
issan Africa has taken the next step towards unlocking
the potential of the African market, by unveiling a new
leadership structure that will take effect from 1 April
2023 to drive the company’s mid-term plan.
“These are clear signals of the importance of Africa to Nis-
san globally through this new increased focus on the conti-
nent” says Joni Paiva who was newly appointed as Africa Pres-
ident. Paiva will also continue his current position as Divisional
Vice President, overseeing Sales and Marketing, India.
Sherief Eldessouky has been appointed Managing Director
of Nissan Africa with effect from 1 April 2023, replacing Mike
Whitfield, who will now become the Group Strategic Advisor
for Policies, Political Affairs and External Relations.
Eldessouky, who previously combined the twin roles of
being Nissan Egypt country director and driving
the transformation of Nissan Africa, has spent
his life in the automotive industry in a career
that has taken him from his native Egypt to
Brazil, China, Korea, the United States and
Uzbekistan, among others.
The position of country director Nis-
san Egypt will be filled by Mohamed
Samad, who will return to Cairo from
Japan where he has been based. Kabe-
lo Rabotho remains country director for
Nissan South Africa.
www.automobil.co.za
May 2023