Dealerships celebrate excellence

Cooke Howlison Toyota has taken out the supreme award at Toyota and Lexus’ annual business excellence awards.

The top honour recognises overall excellence in branch operations, market leadership and dealership facilities.

The business, which beat 64 Toyota and Lexus stores for the award, serves Dunedin and Balclutha. It has been locally owned and operated since 1895.

Ebbett Toyota in Hamilton scooped three awards at the ceremony, including the inaugural citizenship award, which focuses on the dealership that supports its local community with the best initiative.

The award went to Ebbett for its “community moover”, a van for notfor-profit groups, schools, sports teams and other organisations to use free of charge to attend events.

Neeraj Lala, Toyota NZ’s chief executive officer, says: “The community moover is a great showcase of how mobility can be shared and utilised across a community.”

Ebbett’s other successes included the parts and accessories excellence award, and chief executive officer Tony Coutinho taking out the leadership title.

Lala says the awards help celebrate the achievements of its branches, which contributed to making the company New Zealand’s “leading mobility brand” last year.

“In 2022, we not only held onto our number-one slot against some tough competition and regulatory challenges, but also launched Let’s Go Places, a new company vision focused on mobility, community and sustainability.

“Our stores are an integral part of this vision as they deliver it to their customers and communities they support.

“Despite ongoing supply-chain impacts in 2022, it was a very good year for our stores, and the Toyota and Lexus brands.”

Lala took time during the ceremony to acknowledge the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on dealerships.

“Our thoughts are with our colleagues in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay as they struggle with the massive clean-up and restoration of their businesses and personal properties.”

Personlise Online

Audi NZ has launched an online reservation platform. Buyers can use it to personalise vehicles, such as the colour, wheels, and sound and design specification packs.

“A lot of thought has gone into ensuring the tool creates a seamless brand experience,” says Dean Sheed, Audi NZ’s general manager.

“By introducing an online sales tool, we are not only streamlining

Model Y first

There were 11,628 new passenger vehicles registered in March for an increase of 3.8 per cent from 11,200 in the same month of 2022. Tesla’s Model Y with 761 units was the best-selling model. It secured a market share of 6.5 per cent. The Hyundai Tucson was second on 648 and BYD’s Atto 3 third with 617.

Last month’s top three brands were Toyota with 1,578 sales, Kia with 1,255 and Hyundai on 1,218.

New Passenger Registrations - 2019-2023

the purchase process, we’re making it more accessible with customers able to make transactions from their own homes.”

The system was initially targeted for people pre-ordering the Q4 e-tron and its Sportback stablemate, and will also allow the company to bring new models to market earlier.

New Zealand was the fourth country outside Europe to secure the Q4 e-tron. The range comprises of the SUV and Sportback, and two drive variants.

Electrified Future

Adam Shaver, managing director of BMW Group NZ, says the company is set to build on record results in 2022.

Its sales of electrified BMWs and Minis last year jumped by 135 and 88 per cent respectively compared to 2021. BMW sold 454 electric vehicles and Mini 482 in 2022.

Shaver says this growth came in the same year as the government implementing policies to speed up the adoption of electrified models.

He adds: “We look forward to building on these results in 2023 as we refine our product line-up and brand direction to support the growth of our electrified vehicles.”