Port Elizabeth’s Tavcor Motor Group is investing R60-million in new offices and a showroom in the Metro’s new motor hub on the William Moffett motorway.
The new premises will be built to the Volkswagen worldwide standard for new generation dealerships, according to group chief executive officer Alan Taverner.
Tavcor’s new five thousand square metre building will include showrooms for 20 new vehicles, 70 used vehicles, as well as a 26 bay workshop and full service parts outlet. Parking for 250, cars and a full service from Tavcor MotoRent will also be housed on the site.
Tavcor expects to service over 100 cars a day.
The staff of 120 will move from the company’s premises of 42 years on Mount Road in Port Elizabeth’s North End.
Tavcor, which is the third largest single outlet dealership in South Africa, has won numerous Volkswagen South Africa and national awards for service and performance.
The company received ISO14001 accreditation status in 2010, and is the only VW Dealership in South Africa to achieve this level.
Its new headquarters have been designed as a “green” building. Rain water harvesting will feed into water tanks capable of holding 200 000 litres. The water will be used by empowerment car wash company, Siyoyisa.
Taverner says he is sad to see Volkswagen leave Mount Road, but equally glad to be able to add much needed capacity for the future. “This move positions Tavcor Volkswagen for the next 20 years”.
The existing embassy building will stay in the family, and would house a suite of new businesses from July 2012.
The project is being managed by Johann Lochner of Robinson Baker and Lochner associates. The building has been designed by Alchemy Architects, appointed by VWGSA to implement new corporate identity projects in South Africa.
An artist’s impression of the new Tavcor headquarters in Port Elizabeth.
