Image: AdobeStockA UWC alumna at Hyundai has helped open a new road for university staff, with preferential pricing, service benefits and support that lasts well beyond the showroom.
For many people, buying a car is one of the biggest financial decisions they will make. A new partnership between UWC and Hyundai aims to make that decision easier for the people who keep the University running.
The Hyundai Mobility Partnership gives UWC employees preferential pricing on Hyundai vehicles, with discounts across selected models. The benefits continue after the sale. Staff also get service and maintenance benefits, discounts on parts, and access to Hyundai's dealer network.
"The partnership is designed to make vehicle ownership more accessible while providing ongoing support beyond the initial purchase," says Nombulelo Maseko, Regional Fleet Manager at Hyundai Regional Cape Town.
The offering grew out of discussions between Hyundai Brackenfell and UWC about how the company could support the University and its employees. For Maseko, the project was personal. She completed her Advanced Diploma in Management at UWC.
Image: AdobeStock"UWC played an important role in my personal and professional development," she says. "Being in a position to contribute to the University and its staff through Hyundai is something I am particularly proud of."
Staff have been quick to take it up. Since the partnership launched on 20 August, Hyundai has received more than 15 applications from UWC employees, and six vehicles have already been delivered.
"It has been encouraging to see the level of interest and to begin building momentum," Maseko says. She hopes the relationship "will continue to grow and benefit both the University and its staff."
For UWC's Human Resources team, the partnership is about wellbeing as much as it is about transport. "Employee wellbeing extends beyond traditional benefits such as retirement funding and medical aid," says Dr Queen Ambe of UWC HR. "The affordability and reliability of transport can have a significant impact on an employee's household budget, mobility and overall quality of life."
By negotiating as an institution, UWC secures terms staff might not get on their own, at no cost to the University. Dr Ambe stresses that the aim is not to push anyone into debt, but to give staff already planning to buy or replace a car a more competitive offer. "For HR, this is therefore more than a vehicle discount," she says.
HR is now exploring how the partnership can grow, from servicing to other value-added benefits.
