Suzuki, Kia name best dealers

SUZUKI and Kia have announced their Australian dealers of the year respectively.

The Japanese brand presented its Automobile Dealer of the Year awards earlier this month, with John Gardner of Brian Gardner Motors in WA taking out the Metropolitan Dealer of the Year gong.

Geoff Hussin of Gosford City Suzuki (NSW) was named best provincial dealer, while Angel Sotrioff of North Town Suzuki (WA) claimed the rural dealer prize.

Anthony Politis of Action Suzuki Autos (NSW) won the sales dealer of the year award and John Cruickshank of O’Connor Suzuki (NSW) took out CSI DOTY.

Meanwhile, senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Kia Motors Corporation’s International Business Division, Mr JM Park last month presented the 2005 KMA Dealer of the Year awards at a function in Korea during a recent Kia Discovery tour undertaken by the majority of Kia’s 119 Australian dealers.

Kia’s winning dealers were:
Eastern Region: Brian Hilton Kia, Gosford, NSW
Southern Region: Dandenong Kia, Dandenong, Vic
Northern Region: Eagers Kia, Kedron, Qld
Western Region: Joe Crisafio Kia, Osborne Park, WA
Central Region: Stillwell Kia, Medindie, SA "Eagers Kia and Stillwell Kia were foundation Kia dealers and both have been at the forefront of developing the Kia brand in Australia," said Kia Motors Australia COO Steve Lotter.

"Eagers was the number one Kia dealer by sales on a national basis and is about to open a third Kia operation in Brisbane, while Stillwell was the number one Kia dealer in the Central Region.

"Brian Hilton Kia was the number one Kia dealer by volume in NSW, outselling all Sydney metropolitan Kia dealers and becoming the seventh largest dealer nationally by sales volume.

"Joe Crisafio Kia has invested significantly in a standalone Kia dealership and should be considered in every respect a specialist Kia dealer. Dealer principal, Joe Crisafio was recently elected to the Kia Australia Dealer Council.

"Dandenong Kia has consistently been in the top five Kia dealers nationally for sales volume during the last six years and is investing in standalone Kia showrooms at both its outlets," said Mr Lotter.

As with Suzuki’s awards, Kia’s criteria for selecting its winning dealers in 2005 included sales performance, after-sales performance, facilities and customer satisfaction.