WINDHOEK – The Namibian Competition Commission has approved Pupkewitz Group of Companies’ acquisition of Von Baum’s Motors.
Pupkewtiz Group bought Von Baum’s Motors to add to its Pupkewitz Motors Division in the hope of conquering the central region’s motoring market. Von Baum’s Motors has been operating the Volkswagen franchise in Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb areas for 50 years.
“The business history of Von Baum’s is indeed commendable, and is a natural fit into Pupkewitz’s historic tradition of customer satisfaction through service excellence,” said Pupkewitz Group managing director, Jerome Davis, when he announced the acquisition this week. The transition of ownership will not affect any operational affairs of the company.
Klaus von Baum, a motor mechanic by profession, and his wife Anneliese, opened Von Baum’s Motors in Otjiwarongo in February 1961. Despite various setbacks, Von Baum’s Motors was granted the Volkswagen franchise in 1965, which saw the opening of a branch in Tsumeb.
In 1987 a cousin of the Von Baum, Georg Rüdiger, accepted a business proposal to join the business. In 1996, George Bence took over Von Baum’s Motors in Tsumeb as a VW sub-dealer.
Von Baum family handed the rein of Von Baum’s Motors to Rüdiger in 1998 and the franchise has since won the Volkswagen Club of Excellence six times. “For a small rural dealership to be counted among the top 12 dealers in southern Africa is indeed an accomplishment,” said Rüdiger adding: “the next step is to ensure that Von Baum’s keeps going for the next 50 years and the Pupkewitz Motors Division is the perfect partner.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Pupkewitz Motors Division managing director, Ekkerd van Wyk, declared, “I consider it an honour and a perfect birthday present to welcome Von Baum’s to our existing circle of excellence, on this day.
“We strive to be the employer of choice in the motor vehicle sector and a recent internal survey indicated that the vast majority of our employees are delighted to work at Pupkewitz Motors Division. These results should serve as an encouraging welcome to our new family of employees.”
By Staff Reporter