Honda NZ unveils new plans for Nelson
Honda New Zealand is marking its 40-year association with the Nelson community by announcing plans to build a new retail concept store in the city.
The company hopes the new look for its site in Elm Street, Stoke, will deliver an enhanced customer experience. Construction of a bespoke, new customer service centre, pictured above, is due to start in August and Honda will amalgamate all its operations there from late November.
The new facility will be home to Honda’s assembly and fit out operations, and service and sales will be onsite.
Nobuya Sonoda, managing director of Honda NZ, says the company has a “long and proud history” with the Nelson community.
“We started out with our manufacturing facility here in 1980, initially for our Honda Civic model, and eventually transitioned into our current national distribution and fit out centre on Elm Street,” explains Sonoda, pictured below.
“Over the past 40 years our relationship with our customers has been incredibly well supported through a trusted partnership with the Bowater family.
“Today, we’re announcing that this partnership is coming to an amicable end, where Honda New Zealand will be ‘jumping into the drivers’ seat and taking the wheel’ here in Nelson.
“We want to shape our operations to meet future needs and demands of our current and potential customers and we have chosen our Nelson site as the ideal place to showcase this.”
Chris Bowater, director and chief executive of Bowater Motor Group, says he is sad to see Honda leave after more than 40 years of working together
“It has been a privilege to work so closely with the senior Honda NZ team and I’m pleased that all our valued staff are being looked after in these changes,” he adds.
“Honda’s vision to get closer to their customers in Nelson is an exciting new journey for them, and we wish them all the best. Our goal is to ensure we are in a strong position to continue to serve the Nelson-Tasman region for another 75 years and beyond.”
Sonoda says Bowater Motor Group, a family business established in Nelson in 1945, has served the Honda brand well in the region.
Rachel Reese, Nelson City Council mayor, has welcomed Honda NZ’s investment and ongoing commitment to the community.
“Honda has been a part of the Nelson economy since the mid-1980s and it is great to see them strengthening their roots at this uncertain time for our economy, including helping to support local jobs,” she says. “I wish them and the Bowater Motor Group the very best with their future plans.”
