As the truck manufacturer Dealer of the Year season comes to a conclusion, market leader Isuzu has announced its best of 2019 during what it described as a challenging year.
With Isuzu achieving its 31st consecutive year of overall truck market leadership in Australia the company wanted to thank its dealer network for the efforts they put ion in 2019
The company announced the winners of the annual National Dealer of the Year awards at its annual National Dealer Meeting in Sydney recently, South West Isuzu in Bunbury taking out the coveted National Dealer of the Year award for 2019
Three other award categories were also announced during the event, including sales, service and parts awards for top performance in 2019.
Isuzu said that the National Dealer of the Year award not only recognised South West Isuzu’s ‘phenomenal sales efforts in 2019’, but also the dealership’s quality customer support and service record.
Isuzu managing director and CEO, Hiroko Yaguchi, said that dealer principal, Darren Sprigg and the South West Isuzu team exemplify what it means to be an Isuzu Trucks dealer.
“South West Isuzu’s win as the National Dealer of the Year is testament to not only their dedication to all aspects of the business, but also their attention to detail and level of aftersales focus,” said Hiroko Yaguchi
Ms Yaguchi also noted the healthy competition amongst dealers in the vast Isuzu Trucks national dealer network.
“We have the very best people in the business, all around this country, and we recognise their collective commitment and efforts last year,” she said.
In other award news, Isuzu Trucks Sales Dealer of the Year went to Major Motors, and the Parts Dealer of the Year award had joint winners in both Canberr Isuzu and Peeel Valley Isuzu in Tamworth.
Peel Valley Isuzu’s Parts Dealer of the Year win is the dealership’s second win in this category in thee past two years.
South West Isuzu was also awarded Service Dealer of the Year to go along with its overall win.
South West Isuzu’s Dealer Principal, Darren Sprigg, said he was eager to congratulate staff at the dealership.
“The first emotion I had was pride. Pride for the staff more than anything else. I just couldn’t wait to get back to the dealership to tell everybody and be with them, said Darren.
“We’ve made some in-roads in the last four to five years to take the dealership to the next level in a challenging market,” he added.
Mr Sprigg attributed the dealership’s strong relationships with customers and the support of their IAL Zone Managers as key contributing factors to South West Isuzu’s blossoming success.
“We’re lucky to have a really stable zone group at the moment in Western Australia—sales, service, business and technical—and that shouldn’t be underestimated.
“It’s very much a partnership [with IAL] and we all want the same thing for our customers.
“We’re always working on ways to try and make customers feel part of the dealership, we have some very loyal, long-term customers…without them we wouldn’t have got the award.”
IAL Director and Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Harbison, congratulated all the winners, noting the healthy competition within the network.
“A huge congratulations to Darren and the team at South West Isuzu, as well as to the teams at Major Motors, Canberra Isuzu and Peel Valley Isuzu,” he said.
“Our annual dealer awards continue to highlight the healthy competitive nature of the Isuzu Trucks dealer network, and all of us at IAL take great pride in their achievements.”
IAL Director and Chief of Corporate Services, Paul Evans, echoed Mr Harbison’s sentiments.
“Being the leader of the Australian truck market simply isn’t possible without the commitment of our dealers and their teams,” Mr Evans said.
“Our dealers are at the forefront of our business. They’re the touchpoint between customers and the Isuzu brand, and we note their consistent efforts in helping the brand grow from strength to strength, year-on-year.”
Isuzu Trucks concluded the 2019 calendar year with a total of 8,621 trucks sold, with 22.7 per cent share of the truck market (according to T-Mark).
