Mazda, Isuzu Ute, Ram Trucks recognise top dealers

CAR companies have continued to acknowledge the efforts of their dealer network and reward their top-performing retailers for strong performances last year, despite the industry’s downturn and deeper concerns this year as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic grips the automotive sector.

Mazda, Isuzu Ute and Ram Trucks Australia were among the brands to stage annual award presentation ceremonies recently, with Mazda Australia announcing that 16 dealerships last year reached the highest level in its Master Dealer Excellence Awards program.

To be deemed a Master Dealer, dealerships must excel at an in-depth number of key success factors including facilities, business processes, people development, sales results, financial management and customer satisfaction.

While all 16 dealerships honoured received the same accolades, the awards meant different things to the recipients with a number of repeat appearances and few fresh faces in the mix.

Lead by dealer principal David Russell, Wippells Autos in Toowoomba claimed its 26^th award in as many years, making it the only dealership in the country to have won every year since the awards’ inception.

Grand Prix Mazda Aspley, currently under the leadership of dealer principal Luke Camilleri returned for its 23^rd appearance while Victoria’s Ringwood Mazda also returned, claiming its 22^nd accolade.

Western Australian dealership Wanneroo Mazda and Tasmanian establishment Burnie Mazda were two of the newcomers for 2019, with the rest of the winners being Queensland’s Mareeba Mazda, Mount Gravatt Mazda and Wide Bay Mazda, Victoria’s Frankston Mazda, South Morang Mazda, Ballarat Mazda and Bendigo Mazda, New South Wale’s Penrith Mazda Centre and Nowra Mazda, South Australia’s Mawson Lakes Mazda and Western Australia’s Parkland Mazda.

Mazda Australia director of sales Jarrod Gieschen congratulated all 16 of the dealerships and said the Master Dealer status is highly coveted among the dealer network.

“The Master Dealer program each year advances the benchmark for business excellence and customer service among the network, driving constant innovation and putting renewed focus on Mazda’s customer-centric approach,” he said.

“The Master Dealer program is a chance to celebrate the dealer network, whose passion and commitment is critical to the success of Mazda Australia.”

Isuzu Ute Australia’s (IUA) Dealer Excellence program was tweaked for 2019 to be more comprehensive and thorough in its examining so judges could be sure the very best dealerships and staff were rewarded.

Much like Mazda’s criteria, IUA’s dealerships were judged on a range of factors including both sales and aftersales results as well as the overall customer experience and satisfaction.

Ken Mills Isuzu Ute in Queensland took out the top honours, named the highest performing dealership of 2019 with a 25 per cent sales increase over 2018, something dealer principal Ken Mills attributed to his staff.

“Having worked alongside the Isuzu Ute brand since 2017, I could not be more pleased with the performance of my dealer staff throughout a challenging year in 2019,” he said.

“I speak on behalf of my whole team when I say it is an honour to be recognised alongside an amazing group of dealerships across the country.”

Behind Ken Mills Isuzu Ute in second was fellow Queensland dealership Emerald Isuzu Ute while NSW’s Goulburn Isuzu Ute came in third.

Mt Isa Isuzu Ute (QLD), Shoalhaven Isuzu Ute (NSW), Geraldton Isuzu Ute (WA), Peter Dullard Isuzu Ute (VIC), Pakenham Isuzu Ute (VIC), Burdekin Isuzu Ute (QLD) and Gympie Isuzu Ute (QLD) rounded out the top 10 in that order.

IUA managing director Hiroyasu Sato said it was only right to acknowledge and reward the persistence, tenacity and commitment of the dealerships and tipped more great things to come in coming years, in spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“I have no doubt that our entire dealership team will continue to bring the Isuzu Ute brand to new heights in 2020,” he said.

New heights are exactly what Ram Trucks Australia reached in 2019, with a 296.7 per cent sales increase compared to 2018, an achievement which also marked the 5000^th vehicle was remanufactured for Australia.

Gold Coast Ram was as named Australia’s Top-Selling Ram Dealer for 2019, subsequently taking out the Queensland sales award as well.

McCarroll’s Ram in Newcastle claimed the sales gong for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory while Alan Mance Ram claimed sales honours for Victoria and Tasmania.

Trekking west, Perth-based dealership Motor Corp Ram took out the title not only for Western Australia, but South Australia and the Northern Territory as well.

Ram Trucks’ success has continued so far this year ending February with sales up a further 32.6 per cent on the same time last year while both Mazda and Isuzu Ute have dipped 12.3 and 8.4 per cent respectively.