Tireless dealers behind fave auto brands honored

IT TURNED out that “old-fashioned values” like trust, teamwork, and customer care are what it takes to achieve success in today’s modern, highly-competitive automotive industry.

These values shape the business styles of the various dealerships recognized as the best by their principals.

Indeed, these top dealerships deserve recognition as they helped the industry achieve a record-breaking 347,321 units, a 28-percent improvement from last year’s 270,340-unit performance.

In a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMP), total sales by their members reached 288,609 units, a 23 percent growth from the 234,747 units sold in 2014.

When combined with the figure posted by the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID)—sales of imported vehicles last year surged 65 percent to 58,712 units versus the 35,593  sold in 2014—the industry was able to surpass the 2015 target of 320,000 units.

Here are a number of these outstanding dealerships that had a substantial impact on their principal’s profitability and the local automotive industry as a whole.

Nissan PH’s top teams

The North Edsa dealership may be Nissan Philippines’ only one taking charge of the sizable Quezon City market but this huge responsibility only inspired the people there to intensify their sales efforts and services.

Their endeavor paid off as Nissan Philippines declared them the 2015 Dealer of the Year Awards in last Feb. 16 event held at the Marriott Hotel in Resorts World Manila, Pasay City.

Receiving the awards from Team Nissan VP and COO Tey Sornet and Team Nissan Group GM was Nissan North Edsa GM Ato Mendoza.

Other awardees recognized were Nissan Shaw for being the Best in Customer Satisfaction for Sales as well as Nissan Lipa, which captured the Best in Customer Satisfaction for Service award.

Kia PH’s pride

While Kia Philippines did not bestow its 2015 dealer of the year award, it did however presented one of its dealers the highest award given by its Korean principal, Kia Motors Corp.

Called the 2015 Prestige Platinum Silver Turtle Ship Award or “Keobukseon,” the award went to Kia Las Pinas.

The award is represented by a 99.99 percent silver replica of Keobukseon, a Korean Navy battleship that won fame for playing a vital role in winning innumerable sea battles against the Japanese naval forces during the Japan-Korean war from 1592 to 1598.

Since only five Keobukseon battleships have been made during that period, the Keobukseon is a much-cherished relic of the Korean culture and a fitting trophy for an achievement.

To get this coveted award, Kia Las Pinas achieved exemplary performance and aced the requirements in both sales and after sales.

The dealership was also able to accumulate the most points in the following areas: Facilities, Process, Management, IT Infrastructure, and Training.

Also taken into account was the dealership’s sales achievement, return on sales, new car profit rate, service profit rate, part profit rate, service absorption rate, and staff retention rate.

Ford PH leaders

During the recent 2016 Annual Ford Dealer Convention held at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Ford Manila Bay was hailed “Dealer of the Year” for Metro Manila for the second consecutive year.

Anthony Cheng and Dr. Mike Tan, with branch manager Andrew Dinglasan, accepted the awards.

Meanwhile, acknowledging the efforts of its provincial dealerships, Ford Philippines declared its Cainta branch, led by dealer principal Edmund Yee, as the “Dealer of the Year” in the provincial category.

With 40 dealerships spread across the country, Ford Philippines has firmly established itself as the top three automotive firm in the country. It enjoyed one of its best sales performances in 2015, recording a 25 percent growth after selling a total of 25,372 units.

Foton PH’s finest

Early this year, Foton Cavite bested 17 other dealerships to capture the Dealer of the Year Award given by Foton Philippines during the 2016 Dealers’ Appreciation Night held at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

The event, which served as the company’s expression of gratitude and recognition of achievements of its dealers, lauded Foton Cavite as it clinched the most number of major awards including Recognition for Fleet Sales, Parts Team of the Year, Service Team of the Year, Best in Passenger Vehicle for Retail Sales, Best in Light-Duty Trucks for Retail Sales and Best in Light-Duty Trucks for Wholesale.

Foton Cavite’s dealer principal, Nicasio Octavo and general manager, Benjie Adriano recieved the award from Foton Philippines chair Dominic Sytin and president Rommel Sytin.

The Dealers’ Appreciation Night event also served as the company’s expression of gratitude and recognition of achievements of its dealers who all shared relevant contributions that led Foton to be able to reach a sales volume of 3,892 units.

Other dealerships acknowledged include Foton Cebu and Foton Balintawak for their remarkable operations in sales and service, being the Dealer of the Year 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.

“We remain resolute in actively and aggressively gaining more partners because we do not want to merely add to our dealership network but rather, we want to multiply,” saif Foton Philippines’ EVP  Anna Maria Parado who shared that the company is expected to inaugurate new dealerships in Quezon Avenue; Pasong Tamo in Makati City; Marilao; Santa Rosa, Laguna; Batangas City and Camarines Sur this year.

Isuzu PH’s best

Isuzu Cagayan De Oro added another feather to its cap, after being hailed as the best Isuzu dealership in the country in the 2015 Isuzu Dealer of the Year Awards (DOYA).

For more than a decade of giving this award, Isuzu Cagayan De Oro (CDO) has brought home this prestigious title seven times, besting 20 other dealerships based on the sales and after sales figures as well as other customer related criteria that Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has devised to measure the overall performance of its dealerships.

During the awarding ceremony last Feb. 17 at Solaire Resorts and Casino, Isuzu CDO president and general manager Frank Rolida received the award together with its Board of Director Dr. Jerome Young and assistant general manager George Ongchua.

Leading the awarding ceremony were IPC president Hajime Koso and executive vice president Takashi Tomita. Second and third places were awarded to Isuzu Cabanatuan and Isuzu Batangas respectively, who both excelled in different DOYA point categories.

IPC also awarded 15 more special awards to acknowledge the continuous hard work exerted by different Isuzu dealerships nationwide.

Isuzu Mandaue’s Yuri Abalo emerged as the Top Sales Executive of the Year, while the 2015 Sales Team of the Year was handed over to Isuzu CDO for the combined selling efforts of its sales force.

According to Koso, “Some dealerships may have been given awards and recognitions, but we, as firm believers to the brand are already victorious. We hope that they, our dealerships, would continue to strive for the best not just in sales but most special in customer satisfaction.”

Moreover, he said that the annual DOYA also showcases the strict and high standards that Isuzu has put up to provide high quality products.