DaimlerChrysler South Africa scooped all the top awards for their passenger car and commercial vehicle stands at a recognition breakfast held on the last day of the Auto Africa motor show at NASREC.

The judging panel for the Auto Africa awards included a team of architects and designers, as well as members of the automotive industry.

DaimlerChrysler’s achievements included awards for the following:

Gold award:
DaimlerChrysler passenger car combined stand (Includes: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors and smart show stands)

Gold award:
Mercedes-Benz passenger car show stand

Gold award:
Jeep show stand

Gold award:
DaimlerChrysler Commercial Vehicles show stand (Including: Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi FUSO and Western Star)

Overall Auto Africa Show Stand of the Year award:
DaimlerChrysler passenger car combined stand

The awards and the scale model, which was created depicting DaimlerChrysler’s show stand, as well as some preserved stand display items, will be placed in various areas at DaimlerChrysler’s Zwartkop site. All practical material, such as flooring and carpets, will be donated to the SOS Children’s Village in Mamelodi, Gauteng, to be used in the 15 family houses where up to 150 children reside.

"All the work done over the last year by the Auto Africa committee and our major suppliers, O'Mage and Jo'burg Set, has paid off handsomely with the top awards and the huge public recognition and appreciation our stands received,” says the project leader for Auto Africa, Guy Franken. “DaimlerChrysler South Africa recognises the contribution made by all our major suppliers, especially those of the catering, cleaning and security employees. More than 250 000 people visited the show this year and voted the various DaimlerChrysler stands as their favourite show stands during a sampled show exit interview.”

This year, Auto Africa received international accredited motor show status and visitors were treated to a massive DaimlerChrysler stand that stretched over a combined 7 000 square metres. The show was also extended by a couple of days and ran over two weekends from 28 October to 5 November.

"It is the ultimate affirmation to be awarded the top honour of the best overall show stand and four gold medals. All those involved in the show have done themselves and the wonderful company we work for proud. In addition, all have contributed to the huge strides made in building our various brands,” concludes Guy.

The Auto Africa organisers will hand over an artwork by Cape Town based artist Paul du Toit as an acknowledgement of DaimlerChrysler’s achievements at this year’s show.