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Leading international retail tyre brand, BestDrive, has officially opened its flagship store in Port Elizabeth, South Africa bringing premium tyre and automotive parts fitment services to Nelson Mandela Bay.
Driven by the need to provide superior, top-notch products and service to discerning customers who demand the best, BestDrive William Moffett sets a new benchmark for the tyre industry. The brand new facility, located in the bustling shopping and residential hub of Walmer, combines stylish amenities with highly trained staff that deliver unrivalled expertise and service excellence.
BestDrive has been a leading tyre retail brand in Europe and Asia since 2006, and was jointly developed by the tyre division of Continental and the corporation’s trade division, ContiTrade.
“The objective of each BestDrive fitment centre is to become the world’s leading tyre service network through an unwavering commitment to premium service, premium quality, premium products and premium facilities,” said Kevin Slabbert, Head of Franchise at ContiTrade Africa.
“Constructed as a greenfields operation, BestDrive William Moffett is our flagship fitment centre and our eighth equity operation in South Africa. It also fully compliments our world-class Continental Tyre manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth.
“It represents the pinnacle of BestDrive quality and expertise, and headlines our growing network across South Africa, which will reach 150 fitment centres by the end of next year.” Slabbert says.
Setting new standards
“The tyre fitment industry in South Africa consists of many well established retail brands and independent retailers who have worked hard to earn the loyalty of local customers,” Slabbert states.
“However, with the increasing complexity of modern cars and their technologically advanced tyres, comes an expectation that the tyre fitment experience will match the sophistication of the product being purchased, and that’s the market that BestDrive is developed for.”
Indeed, the key role played by tyres in the overall performance of latest-generation passenger cars and SUVs – not only in terms of ride comfort and handling, but also as far as aspects such as safety, braking capability and fuel economy are concerned – is driving customers to ensuring that replacement tyres meet the specific requirements of the vehicle.
Accordingly, all BestDrive sales and fitment staff have been trained to the very highest levels. Furthermore, the latest-generation fitment technologies and equipment are used to achieve maximum quality and customer satisfaction.
All BestDrive stores have full access to the comprehensive Continental Tyre product offering, which includes tyres for passenger vehicles, SUVs, light commercial vehicles, truck (radial and bias), and speciality tyres. Other well-known, premium tyre brands are also available.
BestDrive William Moffett features an ultra-high performance (UHP) tyre warehouse to support prompt distribution and delivery of the specialised tyres used on high performance vehicles.
“The close link between Continental and BestDrive allows direct access to specialist knowledge, as Continental is a leading manufacturer of tyres, and is the only company that supplies tyres to all seven vehicle manufacturers in South Africa,” said Shaun Uys, Managing Director of Continental Tyre SA.
“Globally, Continental also produces a vast range of vehicle systems, technologies and components, which gives us a distinct advantage due to our extensive knowledge base that we are able to share across all of our divisions.”
Unique customer experience
The BestDrive fitment centres deliver a unique customer experience that starts with the initial contact and advice, followed by being offered a choice of premium tyres to match the customers’ requirements.
The BestDrive experience is anchored by an expert team that is driven by a real commitment to service excellence, and continues during the time spent enjoying the sophisticated amenities of the waiting lounge.
Quality coffee, free wi-fi, dedicated work booths with power sockets, and upmarket furnishings create an ambience of quiet elegance while the BestDrive team attends to customers’ vehicles.
Comprehensive portfolio of products and services
On the tyre side, BestDrive fitment centres provide the full range of services, including tyre fitment, rotation, balancing, wheel alignment and puncture repairs.
They also offer a comprehensive portfolio of automotive services that extends to the fitment of top-quality brakes, shock absorbers, batteries, mag wheels and vehicle accessories – all of which carry nationwide manufacturer warranties.
The product portfolio for service items includes Gabriel and Monroe shock absorbers; Safeline, Ferodo and Ate brakes; PartQuip Auto Parts, as well as the top battery brands comprising Sabat, Willard, Probe and Exide.
Bosal and Tuffex exhaust systems are available, along with BTM bull bars and tow bars, the wide range of Thule roof racks, bicycle carriers and accessories. Customers also have the choice of a dazzling array of A-line wheels for all types of vehicle applications.
Flagship store
With its close proximity to the Continental Tyre SA plant in Port Elizabeth, BestDrive William Moffett enjoys flagship status and includes a wide range of additional facilities and services.
The site boasts an executive boardroom facility to host local and international guests, and serves as a Customer Service Centre for Continental Tyre South Africa.
It features professional in-house training facilities to provide technical and operational training, and is equipped as a proving ground to evaluate processes, procedures and other solutions before being rolled out to the franchise network.
Additionally, it will be used as a learning facility for Continental employees to experience and understand the retail business as part of their career planning and development opportunities.
Dedicated online presence
Aside from the rapidly growing network of fitment centres across South Africa, BestDrive boasts a dedicated and interactive website (www.bestdrive.co.za) that provides detailed information on the full range of products and services offered.
The site serves as a portal for dealer promotions and useful tyre care and maintenance tips. It also features a dealer locator to find your nearest BestDrive branch, plus the option of requesting a free online quote.
