Hyundai dealership roars into sleek, green building

The new Kelston Hyundai building on Buffelsfontein Road in Gqeberha is a striking landmark.

The latest addition to the vibrant motoring hub on and around William Moffett Expressway in Gqeberha is not only aesthetically pleasing but a monument to sustainability.

With built-in water harvesting and 110 solar panels to power the 2 700m² property and feed electricity back into the grid, the new Hyundai dealership encapsulates the motor industry’s transition to green technologies and infrastructure.

“As the lease for our previous Hyundai showroom in William Moffett was expiring in 2023, we decided this would be the perfect site for the new one,” dealer principal Clinton Bezuidenhout said.

At the old premises, it was near-impossible to offer car-washing services during times of water scarcity. Now, thanks to the installation of four 20 000-litre tanks, customers can look forward to collecting spotless vehicles.

Construction of the building, which became operational in June, began in mid-2022. It officially opens on Wednesday (August 23) to introduce guests to the new-car showroom featuring an in-house café, workshop, mezzanine floor, offices and basement.

It can comfortably accommodate 15 vehicles on its showroom floor, while the location lends itself to ease-of-access and high visibility on a main road.

Bezuidenhout said the Kelston Motor Group owned the building on the corner of Godlonton Avenue and Buffelsfontein Road in Miramar, a business model aimed at investing in its own properties.

Architect Seth Pote, who designed the building and oversaw construction, was tasked with creating a space that could house more personnel and stock than before.

Just short of 50 people work at the premises, which had to adhere to stringent requirements set by Hyundai South Africa. The manufacturer was hands-on in terms of interior design, structure and brand elements.

Throughout the design and construction phase, role-players were incredibly conscious of producing a building that promoted sustainability, Bezuidenhout said.

Rainwater runs into tanks that are housed at the rear of the workshop and the solar installation includes inverters and batteries to power the dealership, with excess energy fed back into the grid.

“These measures have made a tremendous difference to our business,” the DP said. “We can wash cars in a drought while we also have no down-time because of load-shedding.”

The centre offers servicing and repairs for in and out-of-warranty vehicles and a parts department that includes over-the-counter sales. New and used vehicle sales teams are on hand to assist the motoring public.

All current Hyundai models are available, including the Santa Fe, Staria, Creta, Tuscon, i20, Kona, Venue, Grand i10, EX8 and H100.

There is also an extensive range of pre-owned and demo vehicles.

The Hyundai outlet in the Friendly City is one of Kelston’s biggest branches in terms of sales volume – second only to its flagship dealership in Kariega.

“It is a key business in our group,” Bezuidenhout, who is the franchise executive for the carmaker in Gqeberha, Kariega and Graaff-Reinet, said. “We are very pleased with the new location we lovingly call ‘Kelston Corner’.”

He said Hyundai had found favour among South Africans for its workmanship, build quality and specs.

“With the affordable price point, this brand is trusted by consumers and also has the best aftermarket plans in the industry.”