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Hino South Africa has once again set a remarkable benchmark in the automotive industry, securing a Platinum award at the 2024 Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) awards for the sixth consecutive year. This year, Hino achieved an unprecedented feat by earning a rating of over 90% from its dealer network, a first in the history of the awards. The DSI survey, conducted annually by the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) since 2008, is a pivotal measure of dealer satisfaction across various automotive brands. "The DSI is a crucial benchmark for measuring dealer satisfaction across various automotive brands, and this year there was participation from 183 commercial vehicle dealerships," said Itumeleng Segage, General Manager of Hino SA. "Winning a Platinum award for the sixth time and topping the results table with a record high score underscores the exceptional working relationship between Hino team members and the staff at our 63 dealerships." Bobby Pringle, Chairperson of the Hino South Africa Dealer Council, expressed immense pride in Hino South Africa's stellar performance amidst the fiercely competitive truck market. "The results highlight the seamless collaboration between Hino SA and its dealers, all geared towards delivering outstanding customer service and enhancing the profitability of their transport operations," Pringle stated. The introduction of the new, highly competitive Hino 700 series last year has significantly expanded Hino's market reach, complementing the continued success of the well-established Hino 200, 300, and 500 ranges. Platinum DSI awards are presented to brands achieving a score of 85.0 or above. This year, Hino was the only commercial vehicle brand to attain this level of dealer satisfaction. Six brands received Gold awards (75.0 – 84.9), one achieved a Silver award (70.0 – 74.9), and one a Bronze award (65.0 – 69.9). This year's survey saw a notable improvement in the commercial vehicle sector, with the average overall score rising from 77.9 in 2023 to 78.8, marking the highest average score in the 28-year history of the DSI, which only paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted independently, the survey has been sponsored by WesBank for the past 20 years. Participating dealerships are evaluated across 13 focus areas, including dealer satisfaction, communication, and relationships, used cars, CSI programs, vehicle range, vehicle distribution, parts, policy claims and warranty, franchise compliance audits, dealer support, and labor rates. Hino South Africa's relentless pursuit of excellence in dealer satisfaction sets a high bar for the industry, reinforcing its commitment to delivering exceptional value and service to its customers.