Volkswagen South Africa Wins Manufacturer Award for Rental Industry
South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (SAVRALA) car rental members review each car manufacturer brand based on several factors including cost of parts, residual values, and service.

Winners of the 2016 Manufacturer of the Year Awards pose at the awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Winners of the 2016 Manufacturer of the Year Awards pose at the awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) has won the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (SAVRALA) Manufacturer of the Year (MOTY) Award for seventh consecutive year.
Rated by the car rental sector, the award recognizes car manufacturers’ level of service, new standards in technology and safety, and improvements in delivery standards.
Volkswagen also walked away with other awards at the 21st edition of the MOTY Awards held in Johannesburg on Oct. 21, including the Value Award and Best Manufacturer's Technical Representative.
"It is a remarkable achievement and testimony to the VW SA team that they have continued to defend their MOTY leadership for a seventh time,” said Marc Corcoran, president of SAVRALA. “They are true brand custodians and should take great pride at the fact that the car rental industry has recognized and duly rewarded their efforts."
Volkswagen had a three-point lead ahead of Hyundai, which came in second place. Toyota received the bronze award.
The Most Improved Award went to Hyundai who moved from sixth to second place this year.
For the second year in a row, Audi South Africa won the Tutuka award, demonstrating a commitment to satisfying customer needs in the lower volume and niche category.
More Rental Operations

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
