Mercedes-Benz Botany opens its doors

The new state-of-the art Mercedes-Benz dealership officially opened today at 279 Ti Rakau Drive. The 5100m2 site includes 21 service bays, and is understood to be the largest retail dealership in the country. The franchise, owned by the Armstrong Motor Group, is the fourth Mercedes-Benz dealer in Auckland. Currently, dealerships are located in Mt Wellington, Takapuna and Newmarket. It’s the fourth Auckland-based dealership for the group, which has sites in Grey Lynn, Greenlane and Mt Wellington. The site will also be home to the Armstrong Group’s first Hyundai dealership, which will trade as East Auckland Hyundai, and is due to open soon. In the past, managing director Rick Armstrong has said that although there are numerous dealerships in the Botany and East Tamaki area, "it is still lacking a central automotive hub that areas such as Newmarket and Greenlane have developed.” Ti Rakau Drive is a major arterial route which runs through the east of Auckland, connecting East Tamaki and Flat Bush to the northern neighbourhoods in the suburb. Last week, Auckland City BMW also announced a new dealership in East Auckland, which will be located nearby on Te Irirangi Drive, suggesting more franchises may be attracted to the area in the future.