Global award for Star Omoda & Jaecoo Vanderbijlpark

VANDERBIJLPARK – Star Omoda & Jaecoo Vanderbijlpark, part of the Star Motor Group, has been recognised on an international stage for its outstanding social media success after recently receiving the Best Localised Content Creator Award in Wuhu, China.

This achievement emphasises the dealership’s ability to connect with local audiences through entertaining content. Susan Gorman, dealer principal at Star Omoda & Jaecoo Vanderbijlpark, says the award reflects their strong focus on building customer relationships through authentic and creative engagement.

This dealership also achieved Dealer of the Year (Gold – Small Category) in 2025, and Susan was personally recognised for her financial excellence in the automotive sector and received the NADA 2025 F&I Industry Award. Keeping with the times, the dealership’s social presence grew dramatically over the past year. Their following increased from a few hundred to more than 50 000.

Their content also reached striking engagement figures, generating more than 10 million views and 636 000 likes in a single year. Their online success has rendered real results, producing 1 610 leads and contributing to 59 vehicle sales. Susan credits this achievement to the collective effort of the dealership team, saying the content works because it is fun, relatable, and driven by real personalities.

“Everyone participates, everyone contributes, and most importantly, everyone enjoys it. When your team is authentic, your audience can feel it,” she says. They focus on creating content that South Africans can resonate with by using local humour, trending sounds, and real-life dealership moments. Their videos often feature staff members and behind-the-scenes experiences that help viewers connect with the people behind the brand.

“When people see content that feels familiar, that reflects their own lives and experiences, they start to feel connected to your brand. And that’s where the real impact happens because once that connection is built, engagement follows, and eventually, so do store visits, test drives, and sales,” says Gorman.

Susan says receiving the award would not have been possible without the Omoda & Jaecoo team, who put in the hard work and grew from a small local team to an international dream team. The award is seen as a major milestone for Star Omoda & Jaecoo Vanderbijlpark and shows that teamwork and authentic storytelling can have a strong impact in today’s automotive industry.