When GWM – Great Wall Motors – first hit the South African market back in 2007 with a range of hardy, no-nonsense, unbelievably well-priced bakkies, not even the wildest optimists could have predicted just how well this Chinese brand would fare.

But soar it did, and in the past decade well over 55 000 GWM vehicles have found new homes in Mzansi. More than that, these machines have proved incredibly durable.

The vast majority are still pulling daily duty, and let it be said that many a GWM works for its living. And works hard at that.

But the company has also carved out a niche by offering incredible customer support – something that’s born out by its new Loyalty Program. A program aimed at GWMs from 2013 and before, with owners getting discounted parts and labour.

So service your out-of-warranty GWM at an authorised GWM dealer and you’ll enjoy a 10-percent discount on labour and original parts.

Plus – get this – with every fourth service, parts are free. Also available is a discount of up to 50 percent on repair parts.

Qualifying is easy. There are no dodgy terms and conditions here. The vehicle must simply be out of factory warranty, and consecutive services must be done at an authorised GWM dealer.

Naturally these discounts are applicable to scheduled services. Vehicles with extended service or maintenance plans are excluded.

As GWM (now trading as Haval Motors SA) explains, this is just one little way they’re thanking South Africa and their customers for the phenomenal support over the past 10 years.