Car dealer magazine awards Toyota 'Manufacturer of the Year"

Toyota has taken a top honour in the 2013 Car Dealer Power Awards, winning the Manufacturer of the Year title. The accolade is all the more hard-earned, as it is based on the opinions of the UK’s dealers themselves – an industry group renowned for its firm opinions and straight-talking approach.

Announcing the award at a presentation dinner in Portsmouth yesterday, James Batchelor, Car Dealer editor, said: “The relationship between a manufacturer and dealer is always tricky, but Toyota has shown that it puts dealers first.

“Our survey respondents told us the firm’s new range of cars is really changing customer perceptions of the brand, and the fact they now have a sports car to sell (the GT86) means they can speak to long-lost customers. They also told us head office is offering unrivalled support, thanks to ‘like-minded’ management.”

Jon Williams, President and Managing Director Toyota GB, said: “Our national network of dealers is a vital link in our relationship with our customers. It is thanks to their commitment, hard work and understanding of the importance we place on quality and complete customer satisfaction that we are able to compete and succeed in a challenging market.

“Our thanks go to them and to Car Dealer for this award, which we value as a tremendous vote of confidence in our brand.”

This year’s awards were based on more than 2,500 printed and on-line responses to the Car Dealer Power survey.

Car Dealer mag names the new Range Rover as Car of the Year

• Range Rover tops survey of 2500 dealerships from all automotive brands across the UK
• Dealers say: “The Range Rover cannot fail to impress”

The All-New Range Rover continues to fill the Land Rover trophy cabinet having been bestowed with the Car Dealer Power Car of the Year Award.

Uniquely, the awards are voted for by dealerships of all brands across the country with 2500 dealers contributing to the survey. The awards see dealers telling Car Dealer Magazine the best car manufacturers to represent and the best suppliers to do business with. It gives a ‘warts ’n all’ picture of what car dealers right across the UK are thinking.

According to Car Dealer Magazine, the Range Rover was the winner by a clear mile, with dealers saying: ‘it cannot fail to impress’ and ‘it’s a gargantuan step on from the old model – and even that car was best in class’.

James Batchelor, editor of Car Dealer, said: ‘I am delighted to reveal the Range Rover has been voted Car of the Year by dealers right across the UK.
‘The Car Dealer Power Awards are unique in the industry and give dealers a chance to tell it like it really is. More than 2,500 dealers voted in Car Dealer Power 2013 – it’s the most conclusive picture of what dealers in this country think.

‘Land Rover should be especially pleased with the Range Rover being named as Car of the Year 2013, as the award has not only been voted for by Land Rover dealers, but also by their peers – dealers from all corners of the UK regardless of what franchise they represent.’

Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, Jeremy Hicks commented: “This award is particularly valuable as it paints a positive picture of how dealers view our current products and the way in which Land Rover interacts with the dealer network. In addition to gain the admiration of other brands and franchises is a really strong indicator of our progress.”