Porsche expands retail presence

UPDATED: 12/01/2015PORSCHE is preparing to bolster its retail operations in Australia with the opening of two new dealerships in Victoria and Queensland this year.

After posting record sales last year of 2813 new registrations through its 12-dealer network, the German sportscar brand will expand its retail presence with “strategic openings” in Doncaster in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs – to be run by the Preston Motors Group – and the appointment of a new dealer in Townsville, where Porsche’s customer base is growing.

“Our growth plans for Porsche in Australia are on target,” said Porsche Cars Australia managing director Sam Curtis, who late last year told GoAuto that the company was targeting a further 20 per cent sales growth in 2015.

“Equally important is that all Porsche customers – both new and existing – feel special each time they visit a Porsche Centre and receive the highest levels of attention.

“PCA has made a significant investment in the Australian market and in turn we have asked our dealer partners to do the same and I am delighted that together we are building the Porsche business hand in hand.”Due to open in the second quarter, the Doncaster dealership will join Porsche Centre Brighton, also owned by Preston Motors Group, and the Porsche Centre Melbourne in Collingwood.

Preston Motors Group chief executive John Bradley said the location would unlock new opportunities.

“We are extremely pleased to have been appointed the third Porsche dealership in Melbourne,” he said.

“Following the very successful launch of Porsche Centre Brighton in 2009, we are delighted to be expanding our representation of the Porsche brand in Doncaster.

“This area represents a major opportunity for us. Construction of the Porsche Centre Doncaster facility has commenced and we expect to operational in the second quarter of 2015.

“We are very excited to be the new dealership and look forward to working with Porsche Cars Australia to provide the highest quality service to our customers and contribute further to the growth of this exciting automotive marque.”Preston Motors Group is one of the largest automotive retailers in Victoria, having been in business for more than 100 years.

Australian Porsche sales in 2014 saw a massive 47.7 per cent growth on the previous year.

The German car-maker’s top-selling vehicle last year was the Cayenne SUV with 1125 units, followed by its smaller-sized sibling, the Macan, on 800.