• Founders
• Corporate Information
• Through The Years
• Our History
• Locations, Products & Services
• Group Subsidiary and Related Companies

Birds-eye view of 50 years of excellence

• 1952 - Aziz Ahamad, 51, establishes Southern Sales and Service Company Limited, Royal Road, San Fernando.  Acquires a sub agency for Morris cars. 
• 1954 - Southern Sales moves to Cross Crossing with some $20,000 in capital.  Acquires Renault and Mercedes Benz dealerships, Port-of-Spain City Transport Service. 
• 1955 - Introduces Harley Davidson motorcycles, Motorola Radios and Varta Batteries   
• 1956 - Acquires full franchise of Opel produced by General Motors USA (GM).   
• 1957 - September 22, opens Kew Place Port-of-Spain office. Showroom includes Opel, Olympia, Rekord, Kapitan cars and station wagons.   
• 1958 - Introduces Firestone and Scierbling tires from Germany to diversify.   
• 1962 - Introduces Holden vehicles.   
• 1963 - To improve national self-sufficiency, government decides on local  assembly.   
• 1964 - Sales hit TT$1.4 million. Nazir Ahamad appointed director and Sales  Manager. Holden and Opel dominant brands.   
• 1966 - Introduces GM 4 cylinder vehicle. Neal and Massy Automotive assembly plant established in Morvant.   
• 1967 - Neal and Massy plant produces first locally assembled Opel. Nazir Ahamad appointed Managing Director. News of an Oil Boom.   
• 1968 - Historical 7000-mile non-stop drive across Trinidad hosted by Southern Sales. Starts Grenada Motor Sales and Service Company for extra-regional sales.   
• 1969 - Dec. 1, Southern Sales shares franchise of GM Motors with Neal and Massy, including Chevrolet, Holden, Opel and Vauxhaul.   
• 1970 - Acquires Mazda franchise. In record five weeks, first shipment of 355 sold out. Black Power movement causes fall in sales.   
• 1971 - Caribbean Finance Corporation established as Southern Sales subsidiary with financing facilities for purchases.  August 1, fully assembled 2 door vehicles enters market, with Rotary Engine vehicles.  Southern Sales sales force expands.  Joseph Franklin sells record 42 vehicles in one week. Mazda 616 sold at an unbelievable price of $3,599.
  Opel model phased out due to high price of Deutch Mark.   
• 1973 - Foreign currency problems. Mazda RX2 Sedan imported, while 616, RX2, 323 Sedan and B1600 pickup locally assembled. E2000 and E1600 coaches enter market.   
• 1974 - May 10, fire at San Fernando's spare parts division.   
• 1975 - New car sales Challenge Trophy. Persad Maharaj won first three consecutive  years.   
• 1976 - March, South Staff Fund Committee formed. Fire at POS garage results in bigger and better facility. Southern Sales procures the Isuzu franchise.   
• 1977 - Forms Southern Rentals Ltd, buying and wholesaling agency for car parts. Oct., sporty 4.2 liter VS Monaro GTS launched. Mazda 616 sedans sold for protective services.   
• 1978 - July 29, 3:45 am, company mentor and founder Aziz Ahamad passes away. Nazir Ahamad succeeds. Full-fledged Honda motorcycle sales and service division set up in San Fernando and Port-of-Spain. New Mazda B1600 pickup enhances commercial sales.   
• 1979 - Southern Sales commemorates importation of more than 10,000 Mazda vehicles as Mazda celebrates its 10 millionth Mazda off assembly line at Hiroshima plant. December 28, Minister of Works Hugh Francis launches first maxi-taxi sold to Ivan Gonzales, Morvant, for Arima/Port-of-Spain route.   
• 1980 - San Fernando highway completed. March, 50,000th vehicle - a Mazda 323- came off the assembly line at Neal and Massy's Automotive Assembly plant. Oct. 1, Joseph Franklin, non-family member, elected to Board. Mazda 626 Sedan rolls  off local assembly line. High demand, long waiting list for cars.   
• 1983 - Vehicle sales record reaches 23 000 units in annual sales, Southern Sales holds large share of new vehicle market.   
• 1987 - In spite of economic recession, Franklin 'Bull' Mohammed sells 34 cars in one month. Sales continues to decline during 1987 to 1990.   
• 1990 - TT$100 million in recorded sales shone a light of hope. July 27  coup-attempt again lowers sales.   
• 1991 -5,000 units sold, a quarter of sales during the 1980s boom. Opening of  markets allowing foreign assembled vehicles and the eventual closure of vehicle assembly plants. 
• 1992 - Refurbishment begins at Southern Sales headquarters in early
  January at a cost of TT$2 million. Introduces six new foreign-assembled Mazda models in April - MX6, MX3, 929, 323, 626, and B Series.   
• 1992 - Car rental business expanded with now five offices.   April, new and exciting Japan assembled Mazda models land in Trinidad and Tobago. Southern Sales celebrates 40th anniversary opens renovated San Gernando head Office.
• 1993 - Acquires Kia franchise.   
• 1994 - Kia immediately creates impact with the #1 selling pick up, Kia Ceres.   
• 1996 - Government policy expands foreign used car trade. Decline in new vehicle sales . 
• 1997 - Southern Sales is recognised with Mazda Share Increase Award.  
• 1998 - Becomes co-distributor of Audi.   
• 1999 - Southern Sales receives Audi’s award for market share in the region. Expands Tragarete Road operations, sales facilities for Kia, Isuzu, and Audi.   
• 2000 - Lease and Rentals division continues expansion.  #2 car rental company in Trinidad and Tobago. We are again presented with Mazda Share Increase Award.  
• 2001 - Southern Sales’ awarded Spare Parts Department awarded Audi's Best Customer Service. Audi rises as #1 premium brand locally, second largest dealership in region. Isuzu wins contract to supply trucks to T&TEC.   
• 2002 - Appointed sole distributor of Audi. $2million repairs to Richmond Street  offices for Audi exclusive showroom. Lease and Rentals division introduces an airport shuttle service, and Car and Driver services. Isuzu the leading truck; chosen truck of Ministry of National Security. Kia K2700 #1 selling single cab 2WD pickup; Pregio #1 selling 12-seater van/bus; Kia Rio #1 selling small car.  Mazda launches the dynamic and sporty Mazda 6 Sedan.