"Haval is not just another Brand, we are very customer orientated, as we truly understand that without happy customers, we simply don't have a business." This was the opening line to the welcome message from National Sales Manager, Tyrone Alberts when he addressed the Western Cape Haval and GWM owners at the recently held owners weekend for the area.
Haval Motor South Africa hosted selected owners that had purchased their vehicles and reside in the greater Cape Town area to weekend in the berg. The weekend kicked off with a cavalcade of Haval and GWM owners driving in convoy from central Cape Town towards Gordon's Bay with a welcome stop at the Monte Carlo like setting that is The Gordon's Bay Yacht Club. After filling the human fuel tanks the convoy set off again along the picturesque R44 to Kleinmond with their final stop and base camp for the weekend, Arabella Hotel and Spa. The customer vehicles ranged from the nippy and comfortable GMW M4 straight up through the range including H1s, H2s, H6Cs and a gaggle of H9s, a mixed bunch to say the least.
The first item on the weekends' agenda was a stop at Banguela Cove Wine Estate for a wine tasting followed by an A Class master chef dining experience, with the vehicles tucked in for the night at base camp of course.
On Saturday morning after a hearty breakfast, the group headed into one of Arabella's exquisitely laid out meeting rooms for a brief introduction to the brand history of Great Wall Motor Corporation and a synopsis of the brand's core values, Safety, Reliability and Trust. Thereafter, the group was treated to a 4X4 Experience at the Honings Klip 4X4 trail. Accompanied by Haval brand ambassador, Mr Ultimate Survivor himself, Tom Schwartz, the owners lapped up the prowess and expertise of the 4X4 master in the range, the Haval H9.
After another welcome dining experience at the Arabella restaurant the afternoon was filled with more relaxed and less adrenal gland stimulating activities, or so it was thought. It seemed that the now household name in family fun made famous by the television show, Minute to Win was a team affair that was taken extremely seriously by the guests on the weekend. Others however chose to enjoy the epic Golf course Arabella offers or the five star Spa treatments while some just lazed around the pool with the kids.
Sunday morning arrived all too quickly and after breakfast and some photo ops with each other and their vehicles, it was time to end the celebrations and return back to life's routines. With that said, life in a GWM or Haval is anything but a routine and this was clear when some of the clients were asked about the weekend.
Mr Arendse a proud owner of an H9 and an H6C had this to say: "I am now in my late sixties and no brand has ever, ever, taken me, their client for even a chappies bubblegum. Here we are today, a little crowd, but on a tremendous weekend! My family and I are so grateful. Thank you very; very much Haval!"
Dalene Schrickker (Haval H2) had this to say after the event: "On behalf of my Family, I would like to, from the bottom of our hearts thank you all for an amazing Haval GWM Owners Weekend Trip. It was relaxing, busy, fun, enjoyable and most of all unforgettable. Beside the fun filled weekend, we have made friends with the most amazing families and that alone is priceless. Thank you to the entire Haval Team for making this weekend unforgettable. Purchasing a Haval didn't just make me a car owner, client and customer but it also made me and my family part of this amazing Haval family. I purchased my H2 last year from your Thorp Claremont branch in Cape Town, and from the sales man Larry bringing me the H2 to test drive, to me finally driving my own vehicle off the showroom floor, this has been one of the most pleasant and memorable experiences of purchasing a vehicle that anyone could have asked for. Thank All once again for firstly inviting us to this amazing weekend experience and also for embracing us and making us all feel even more part of this global family."
Mr Herman Smythe was quoted: "I merely want to say thank you to the Management and Staff of Haval South Africa for the honour bestowed upon me, to be part of the weekend at the Arabella African Pride Hotel. The food, accommodation, interactions were all great, yet for me the highlight was the 4x4 experience in the powerful H9. I am so grateful for affording me the opportunity, as a first in my life, to be behind the steering wheel and get an unforgettable taste of 4x4 driving and having fun. Once again my heartfelt gratitude for this event and may Haval South Africa grow from strength to strength."
