The 7th of June 2022 marked a momentous day for the Tibone family and the directors of Motor Holdings Botswana as the dealership permanently relocated to their new home. The new home of Motor Holdings is now at Plot 64289, Fairgrounds, along Tlokweng/Zeerust Road, next to Molapo Motors and diagonally opposite Naledi Motors.
Before Motor Holdings relocated to the new home, they’ve for a very long time been residents of Plot 1284, Luthuli Road. The day as well served as a double header of events as it was as well used as the launch day of the all-new Isuzu D-Max. The South African built/assembled seventh generation Isuzu D-Max is, according to Billy Tom, President and CEO, Isuzu Motors South Africa, built in South Africa by South Africans.
To this end, Isuzu Motors South Africa has further invested another R580-million to support component localization as part of its greater investment in local (South African) production of the new D-Max bakkie. The process represents a significant opportunity to transform the automotive sector and usher in the entry of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) participants in its supply chain. Isuzu has maintained an automotive industry B-BBEE Level One rating for a second consecutive year.
Tom said the Isuzu D-Max was originally planned for unveiling last year and the onset of COVID-19 eroded any possibility of production at the Port Elizabeth plant. “The intention was to launch [the D-Max] in early 2022. The original plan was at the back-end of 2021 but COVID-19 has had an impact and we have had to retime it,” he said. “The launch set into motion Isuzu’s R1, 2-billion investment into the plant for D-Max production, as well as exporting the newcomer to left-and-right-hand-drive to other African markets.”
The official opening of the new home of Motorholdings Gaborone marked a new chapter for the dealership that first opened more than twenty years. This was highlighted by Badeti Tibone, General Manager for Motor Holdings Gaborone. Tibone further highlighted that the entire company, board members and the staff was deeply thankful for the support Batswana has given the company and that management of Motor Holdings promises to continue rendering excellent service and better mobility solutions.
