Car companies recognise top dealers

UPDATED: 7/03/2013A LARGE number of car companies have celebrated the achievements of their retail network in 2012 Dealer of the Year award ceremonies held recently for brands including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mini, Volkswagen, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Subaru, Kia, Fiat/Alfa Romeo and Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge.

Mercedes-Benz held its annual DOTY awards at a ceremony in Melbourne earlier this month, presenting no fewer than 59 awards covering the top-performing dealers in various categories within the luxury brand’s passenger-car and vans divisions, plus ‘Star Guild’ and other individual winners for dealership staff in areas such as new-vehicle sales, service and parts, pre-owned, marketing and finance.

Sydney’s Mercedes-Benz Hornsby won the coveted Metropolitan DOTY award, which was accepted by dealer principal Greg Stewart, while the Provincial/Rural DOTY went to Carlin & Gazzard of Mt Gambier.

For Mercedes-Benz vans, the top metro award was won by Melbourne’s 3 Point Motors, while Bendigo’s Poyser Motors took out the provincial/rural section.

Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacific managing director Horst von Sanden paid tribute to the entire dealer network, describing the level of customer service in 2012 as “exceptional”.

“Whilst I am extremely satisfied with the efforts of our team in 2012 ... we are all focused on again exceeding our customer’s expectations throughout 2013,” he said.

Top: Key Motors dealer principal Scott McElligott (left) with Subaru Australia national sales manager Gary Johnson. Middle: Lance Dixon of Lance Dixon Fiat Alfa Romeo, Fiat Chrysler Group's Veronica Johns, Robert Moorcroft and Clyde Campbell. Bottom: Berwick Motor Group managing director and CEO Nick Strauss (left) and Kia Motors Australia president and CEO Charlie Kim.

BMW Group Australia has just announced that Trivett Classic won its highly prized 2012 DOTY award, with managing director Phil Horton praising the Parramatta dealership and the entire dealer network at a gala presentation at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne.

In accepting the award, Trivett general manager Simon Macedone described the accolade as “inspiring”.

“This award is testament to our team’s absolute professionalism and tireless efforts in finding new ways to improve our business and delivering the ultimate experience to our customers,” he said.

Other ‘BMW Trophy’ winners were Brisbane BMW, Geelong BMW, McGuigan BMW (Port Macquarie, NSW), Mildura BMW and Motorline (Daisy Hill, Queensland).

Motorline also took out the 2012 Mini Excellence Award for metropolitan dealers for the second year in a row, while Coastline Mini Garage from Caloundra in Queensland won the top provincial dealer award for the Mini brand.

At VW, Barloworld Volkswagen Bayside in Melbourne took out the national DOTY award as well as top major metropolitan dealer.

In presenting the awards to dealer principal Dino Di Benedetto at a ceremony on the Gold Coast, Volkswagen Group Australia managing director Anke Koeckler said the Moorabbin-based dealership played “a big role” in the brand’s record-breaking sales last year, when it sold just under 55,000 vehicles across the country (up 22.6 per cent on 2011).

“Volkswagen continues to set the pace among the top 10 brands with the strongest growth, and we could not have done this without the commitment, hard work and passion of our dedicated dealership staff,” she said.

Other VW awards winners were Lennock Volkswagen in the ACT (Metro DOTY) and Albany Volkswagen in WA (Rural DOTY), while the Jackson Motor Company in Tasmania picked up the Provincial and Major Rural DOTY awards.

Volvo’s DOTY awards were held as part of the recent V40 launch program, with Annlyn Motors in Penrith, NSW, winning back-to-back titles.

This is the third DOTY award for Annlyn Motors, having also won in 2008.

In accepting the award, dealer principal John Dunn said: “If it was a shock last year, it’s an even greater shock this year.

“To achieve such a prestigious award doesn’t come easily and requires hard work and commitment from the entire team.”

Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid said the DOTY award signifies “a commitment to excellence in all areas of the business and, of course, an unwavering commitment to the brand”.

“Annlyn Motors has once again demonstrated its dedicated approach to customers, staff and Volvo Cars,” he said.

Awards were also presented by Volvo for Aftersales DOTY and Highest Customer Experience Monitor (both won by Altitude Volvo Cars in Brighton, Melbourne), Highest PMA New Vehicle Market Share (Allan McKay Autos, Moss Vale, NSW) and Highest New Vehicle Sale Volume (Melbourne City Volvo).

Jaguar Land Rover Australia paid tribute to its top-performing dealers at a recent function at the Sydney Museum, with director of sales operations Chris Lidis describing the winners as “exemplary Jaguar and Land Rover dealers who have consistently achieved in all key areas of the business”.

For Jaguar, Steve Kelly of Sunshine Jaguar on the Gold Coast was again named metro DOTY, while John Patrick of John Patrick Jaguar in Port Macquarie, NSW took home the regional DOTY award.

Rodney Dale of Purnell Motors in Blakehurst, NSW accepted the Land Rover metro DOTY award, while Rex Gorell of Rex Gorell Land Rover in Geelong, Victoria was handed the regional DOTY award.

The increasingly strong Queensland market was also underscored at Subaru’s recent Retailer of the Year awards, with Townsville’s Key Motors taking out the national prize and the Northern region award.

In presenting the awards to dealer principal Scott McElligott at a special event in Sydney, Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior said it took “huge discipline and multiple skills to run an outstanding dealership in this competitive environment”.

“Scott and his team in Townsville have combined to offer outstanding customer service and sales success, underlined by great expertise, training and product knowledge,” he said.

Other regional award winners were: Garry Crick Subaru of Maroochydore (Brisbane region), Crossroads Subaru of Glendale, NSW (Eastern), Denlo Subaru of Parramatta (Sydney), Geelong Subaru in Victoria (Southern), Subaru Glen Waverley (Melbourne), Neil Buckby Motors of Launceston (Tasmania), Jarvis Subaru of Adelaide (Central) and Bunbury Subaru in WA (Western).

For the fast-growing Kia brand, Berwick Kia in Melbourne’s south-east was recently presented with the coveted Metropolitan Gold President’s Award at a ceremony at Vue de Monde in Melbourne.

Werribee Kia in Melbourne’s west took out silver and Brisbane’s Toowong Kia bronze.

Among provincial Kia dealers, John McGrath Kia (Phillip, ACT) scored gold, Brian Hilton Kia (Wyong, NSW) silver and Sharp Motor Group (Tweed Heads, Qld) bronze, while Kia’s top rural DOTY winners were Broken Hill Kia, NSW (gold), Port Kia in Port Macquarie, NSW (silver) and Riverland Kia in Loxton, SA (bronze).

Berwick Motor Group managing director and CEO Nick Strauss said: “We’re extremely excited and proud that we are the number-one Kia dealership in Australia.

“The entire team have so much enthusiasm for our products, and their commitment to providing the best service to each and every customer has resulted in this fantastic reward.”

Fiat Chrysler Group Australia has also announced its 2012 DOTY winners, with John Hughes Chrysler Jeep Dodge (CJD) from Victoria Park, WA named CJD DOTY, and Lance Dixon Fiat Alfa Romeo in Doncaster, Victoria taking the Italian brands’ DOTY in the first awards for Fiat/Alfa after Chrysler took control of distribution from Ateco Automotive last year.

Regional DOTY awards for CJD dealers were also won by City CJD in Melbourne (Southern Metro), Ken Muston CJD in Shepparton, Vic (Southern Regional), Peter Warren Automotive in Warwick Farm, NSW (Eastern Metro), Northstar CJD in North Brisbane, Qld (Northern Metro) and Garry Crick Auto Group in Noosaville, Qld (Northern Regional).

“These guys are the best of the best,” said Fiat Chrysler Group director of sales Veronica Johns.

“They constantly and continuously improve all areas of their operations, with the final goal of ensuring the best possible service in every single business area, for every single customer who walks in through their doors.

“These dealers are the ultimate asset to our group of companies.”