Company supersizes dealership

Auckland City Toyota’s dealership at Mt Wellington is being relaunched today as a “super store” after becoming the marque’s largest site in New Zealand.

Following renovations, the footprint of the Forge Way premises is now 21,000 square metres and it has space for more than 250 used cars, while the 1,800sq m aftersales department employs 41 people and has 33 service workshop bays.

The super store, which officially opens on December 12 and will sell new and used vehicles, is the first in Toyota New Zealand’s network of more than 60 dealerships. 

Auckland City Toyota, which also operates sites in Greenlane and Grey Lynn, has been owned by Armstrong’s for more than 10 years.

Rick Armstrong, executive director of Armstrong’s, says: “The significant investment into the Mt Wellington super store demonstrates a commitment to the Toyota brand, customers and to its future.

“We’re excited to launch this new super store, the largest Toyota store in the country. It is a special addition to the 16 dealerships we operate across New Zealand.”

Toyota NZ says the site meets EnviroMark certification with ongoing sustainability core to its future business operations. Recycled materials were used throughout the building upgrade, including recycled aluminium joinery, and the lighting has been upgraded to LED throughout. 

Further boosting its green credentials is a water-harvesting system that will capture the roof’s rainwater for use in the onsite car wash and wet bays and there is charging capacity for 22 electric vehicles at any one time.

Neeraj Lala, Toyota NZ’s chief executive, says: “Toyota stores such as the new facility in Mt Wellington are the backbone of the Toyota business across New Zealand.

“I want to extend the thanks and appreciation of Toyota New Zealand to Rick Armstrong and the team at Auckland City Toyota for your commitment to the brand and the investment into this new purpose-built super store.”