Marques celebrate success
A Christchurch-based business has won Toyota’s supreme award at the Toyota and Lexus Business Excellence Awards.
Miles Toyota also won the finance and insurance and used-vehicle excellence awards to cap off a great 2024 for chief executive officer Mark Mills and his teams at their city centre and Ilam stores.
The supreme award requires every area of a Toyota franchise to be performing at the highest level to deliver exceptional experiences for customers and strengthen the store’s connection to local community.
Lexus of North Shore in Auckland won that brand’s supreme award for the second year running. It’s the top honour for dealerships working to deliver Lexus’ promise of “experience amazing” for customers.
Tatsuya Ishikawa, Toyota New Zealand’s acting chief executive officer, says the business excellence awards celebrate the leadership at its stores and their annual achievements.
He adds: “The leadership teams at our Toyota stores are deeply invested in creating a thriving business that’s not only great for the customer, but is also well-connected to communities they operate in.
“Our stores are actively involved in delivering valuable community work. These awards give us the opportunity to recognise them for all their hard work.”
Ishikawa says the awards reflect the continued strength of the Toyota brand and its customer offering in this country.
“Over the past year, we not only held onto our number-one slot, but also broke our own sales record with Lexus reaching number two in the local new luxury-vehicle market.
“It was a strong year for our stores and the brands. Our new-vehicle network came together to deliver 31,520 vehicle sales during the year and achieved 37 years of market leadership.
“We’re proud to continue to deliver vehicles that meet the needs of our customers, not to mention all the other services we offer.”
Andrew Davis, vice-president and chief strategy officer, says: “Finishing 2024 as the second top-selling brand in the luxury market left us all feeling incredibly proud of our Lexus dealerships.
“The work they have been putting into the brand has paid off and we now aim to continue that momentum throughout 2025.
“Not only did Lexus have a strong year in sales, a number of new showrooms opened across the country and there are more to come.
“We’re excited about what’s in store for 2025, so being able to recognise the 2024 efforts of our teams has been immensely satisfying.”
Miles Toyota secured the top award at Tākina, Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, last weekend.
It was founded in 1980 by Bruce and Kay Miles. They also own Pacific Toyota in Tauranga, which took home the service excellence and citizenship awards.
The latter recognises the contributions and impact that Toyota and Lexus stores make in the communities they operate in.
Pacific Toyota received the honour for its long-term partnership with the Good Neighbour programme, which supports local communities with food rescue and distribution, as well as firewood distribution and neighbourhood clean-up projects.
It was a successful evening for Wellington’s Rutherford & Bond and the King Toyota Group with the premier leadership award going to new CEO, Derek Tilyard. It also won the branch of the year for its Porirua business.
The president’s award, which recognises excellence in customer satisfaction and retention, went to South Canterbury Toyota in Timaru, a finalist for the seventh consecutive year and now a four-time winner.
Northland Toyota in Whangarei won the parts and accessories award and Otorohanga’s Prescott Toyota secured the new-vehicle excellence award.
Lexus of Auckland City, which recently moved to a new flagship showroom in Newmarket, scooped the marque sales and marketing excellence award.
Step forward the winners
Premier awards: Toyota Supreme Award – Miles Toyota, CEO Mark Mills. Lexus Supreme Award – Lexus of North Shore, CEO Mark Jago. President’s award – South Canterbury Toyota, CEO Mark Patterson. Leadership – Rutherford & Bond and King Toyota, CEO Derek Tilyard. Citizenship – Pacific Toyota, CEO Chris Bussenschutt.
Excellence awards: Branch of the year – Rutherford & Bond Toyota Porirua, CEO Craig Martin. New vehicles – Prescott Toyota, CEO Ryan Prescott. Used vehicles – Miles Toyota, CEO Mark Mills. Parts and accessories – Northland Toyota, CEO Aaron Budrewicz. Service – Pacific Toyota, CEO Chris Bussenschutt. Finance and insurance – Miles Toyota, CEO Mark Mills. Lexus sales and marketing – Lexus of Auckland City, CEO Sharlene van Dijk.
