Blue Chip Dealer Group and Lightstone Auto partner up

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Lightstone Auto, part of the Lightstone Group, provides data-driven insights, online market intelligence, new vehicle sales data and compliance expertise to the South African motor industry.

The partnership with the Blue Chip Dealer Group will provide the Blue Chip Dealer Group’s prospective members with access to a transaction platform, industry insights and various compliance solutions. The Group is also the first independently-owned group that conducts a specialised customer satisfaction index with all customers. Furthermore, all members have access to a full complaint resolution process. Buyers of vehicles from a Blue Chip Dealer have access to stock outside of their geographical area, assisting in the search for the desired car, and reassurance they are purchasing a vehicle from a reputable organisation that has subscribed to a strict code of conduct.

Unique, independent network

Pieter Wessels, who heads up Lightstone Auto, is excited about the value the partnership will bring to the industry. “The purpose of the Blue Chip Dealer Group is to create a unique and exclusive grouping of independent motor dealers bound by strong principles, shared values and a fully integrated national trading platform,” says Wessels.

Six years ago various independent motor dealership owners in the Western Cape, under the leadership of Eddie Nortier from Nortier Motors, came together to align their common interests. They established the Blue Chip Dealer Group, which allowed for integrated trading whereby members would be able to share stock and cost effectively advertise their retail stock. A win-win motto of “I have a buyer, you have the vehicle, let’s do business” was adopted. The members soon recognised that the platform’s potential and membership yielded a much broader opportunity for the upliftment of independent dealers. As a result, the group incorporated the following into their Blue Chip dealer community.

They would:

• Create a reputable environment for a buyer/seller to transact in
• Establish an exclusive trading platform to source and sell stock
• Launch an exclusive dealer-to-dealer trading platform
• Provide a unique vehicle search engine
• Match clients with their desired vehicles
• Create a shared vision and work ethic
• Be exclusive and offer a unique operational system

Partnering to nationalise

Eddie Nortier, independent chairman at the Blue Chip Dealer Group, notes that the Western Cape cell quickly grew to include 25 members and the need to expand was evident. An independent partner was required to assist in nationalising the concept. The requirements for such a partner were: total independence, a strong track record, and impartial performance within the motor industry. The Lightstone Group was the preferred partner of choice and a joint National Executive Council with a 50/50 representation was established to drive the nationalisation of the Blue Chip Dealer Group.

The West Rand cell was the first addition to the roll-out in establishing a national footprint. Other cells are set to follow soon and identified future members will be invited to join this unique and exclusive group where they will have access to the value provided by the Blue Chip Dealer Group and Lightstone Auto.