UNDER THE BONNET
Volkswagen
Dealer earns
top title
T
he German car industry has a solid
reputation as one of the most prestigious
in the world. This reputation is built
on unparalleled technological sophistication,
attention to detail and mechanical prowess.
As a Volkswagen Dealer as well as a Master
Dealer Mechanic, Hagen Zimmermann was
recently awarded the prestigious Golden
Master, or Meisterbrief. This mechanical
engineering accolade is a great honour for
both Zimmermann Garage and Volkswagen.
During a special function held in Windhoek,
Mark Handley, National Sales Manager,
Volkswagen South Africa handed the Golden
Meisterbrief to Hagen in recognition of
his achievement. And this is not the first
award received by the Dealership; others
include trophies for its technical ability, sales
awards as well as the best Volkswagen Dealer
Principal in southern Africa.
Benchmark of excellence
Says Mark: “Volkswagen has very stringent
requirements of all our Dealer Principals.
Adjustments must be constantly made to the
evolving nature of the car industry as well
as the worldwide brand that is Volkswagen.
Zimmermann Garage must therefore be in
a constant position to offer all Volkswagen
owners the quality assurance that is expected
from a brand like Volkswagen.”
At the moment around 40 cars come through
42 Volkswagen
the workshop each day. This necessitates that
all technical know-how and equipment is up
to scratch to international standards to offer
clients the best possible service.
All new software as well as mechanical
equipment is sent directly from Volkswagen in
Germany. Keeping up to date with all the latest
trends and technologies on the service front
means that constant upgrading of technical and
mechanical know-how is a necessity.
“The Handwerkskammer is a German
organisation all professional artisans join.
It oversees all artisans and is instrumental
in setting minimum wages as well as setting
all tests and examinations in the industry,”
says Hagen.
Multifaceted approach
To study towards your Meister (or Masters
Degree in Auto Mechanics), you first need
to pass all your normal examinations and
then work in the industry for five years. This
is actually a total of eight years because the
apprenticeship also lasts three years. The
course also includes nine months of study in
all business management requisites such as
accounting, social law, HR relations, time and
labour calculations, technical drawing and
fault finding.
The rationale behind these criteria is that
while you might be very good at fixing cars,
if you cannot cost your business correctly
Windhoek-based
Hagen Zimmermann
has been running
Zimmermann
Garage for the
last 50 years.
During that time
it has grown to
a multimillion
Namibian Dollar
enterprise as well as
a loved institution
on the Namibian
landscape
By Elizabeth Scott
you will not run a profitable and successful
operation. Your responsibilities as an employer
are also a crucial factor in this training.
Heart of German engineering
“Volkswagen prides itself on being a South
African company with German engineering
at its heart. This is the philosophy of Hagen
Zimmermann who is at work in his workshop
at 05h30 every day making his hobby of
mechanical engineering, his work. Hagen’s
success lies in involving his family in the
business; each is responsible for running
a department according to their individual
strengths. Hagen’s wife Urzwel is responsible
for the finances, with his two sons Norbert
and Rainer being responsible for the sales
and service departments respectively,”
says Mark.
The 50 years Meisterbrief award shows exceptional commitment to your career. Auto
mechanics is in Hagen’s blood. He started his apprenticeship in 1953 and was posted to
Volkswagen in Nottingham, England during the latter part of the 1950s. He made the decision
to emigrate to the then German colony of South West Africa and settled in Windhoek in 1963
with his wife Urzwel and two young sons Rainer and Norbert. Says Norbert, “There is another
milestone for my parents this year. They have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.”
The first site for the company was located at Ausspannplatz but they subsequently bought
a small workshop at the southern end of Windhoek. Number 5 Wright Street is still where the
business is located today and where it has continued to grow to its current standing.
Once you have passed your Master examination you are still subject to training as the auto
industry is continually evolving and introducing new products. While the awards are fairly
common in Germany where they are needed by entrepreneurs to set up their own company, it
illustrates Hagen’s determination to be the best Dealer Principal in the Volkswagen Network.
When asked about the secret of their success the Zimmermann Garage team is succinct and
to the point: “Our full management team is involved in every aspect of the company. We solve
problems together. We are honest, hardworking and always looking for the perfect solution to
any problem.”
Volkswagen South Africa congratulates Hagen and the Zimmerman family on this significant
achievement and wishes them well in the years to come.
Volkswagen National Sales Manager Mark
Handley presents the prestigious Golden
Master award to Hagen Zimmerman, the
Dealer Principle and Master Dealer Mechanic
of Zimmerman Garage, Windhoek, Namibia
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