7 minute read
New Dealership Builds
Dealership Builds
A Richmond Store Expands to Become Largest Toyota Dealership in Canada
OpenRoad Toyota in Richmond has been a market leader since 1978 when it first opened its doors as Richmond Toyota. Since 2001, when it re-launched as OpenRoad Toyota Richmond, the dealership has won numerous awards, including a nod as the number-one Toyota dealership in Canada.
Most recently, it has been honoured as Best Managed Company (2014) and Best Employer (2017).
Now the innovative, award-winning dealership is poised to take another big step, announcing plans to start construction in March 2020 to build a brand new, state-of-the-art showroom and service facility in what will become the largest Toyota dealership in Canada.
“We’re proud of the service we have provided for almost 40 years—and our new facility will ensure we’re ready to continue to provide the best service experience to current and future customers in the Vancouver area,” said Christian Chia, dealer principal at OpenRoad Toyota.
The new facility, to be built right across the street from its present location in the Richmond Auto Mall, will be five times larger, with a surface area of 205,000 square feet. It will incorporate leading-edge environmental systems, as well as more space to showcase and service the full range of Toyota models.
Customers will find several amenities, including two lounge areas, a children’s play area, plus a full-service café with TVs, a fireplace and Wi-Fi access. The new vehicle showroom space will encompass more than 15,000 square feet, making it the largest Toyota showroom in British Columbia. It will have space to display 36 vehicles on two levels, plus 10 indoor new vehicle delivery bays.
Toyota dealers have long prided themselves on offering excellent customer service, and OpenRoad Toyota Richmond will aim to add to that reputation, with a 12-bay drive-through reception service, 30 full mechanical service bays, and four express service bays for routine work such as oil changes. There will also be two automatic carwashes and six detail bays.
Outside, the new site’s architectural design will incorporate many cutting-edge environmental features such as a green roof and water collection system on the car wash, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems and energy-conscious LED lighting.
Northern BC
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Many of the initial headwinds holding back LNG expansion have subsided. There are signs that the looming US-China trade war may be resolved before it worsens, and long-term contracts for supplying LNG have been successfully negotiated with major customers in Japan and China.
The scale and scope of the pipeline and LNG projects are impressive, so simply constructing accommodations for all the expected workers and trades people is a massive undertaking. A workers village called Cedar Valley Lodge is being completed near Terrace; it will have 4,500 rooms and feature its own movie theatre and recreation complex.
So with all that activity, how are automotive dealerships in the region responding?
Most analysts anticipate a robust demand for trucks of all sizes in the north (about 90 per cent of the overall sales). But the flip side of any boom-time economy is the increased difficulty it presents in finding and retaining employees to deal with the increased demand.
But it’s a challenge Prevost readily accepts. He says MacCarthy GM has added 18 new staff this past year with plans to keep hiring even more in 2020.
He says, “We know we can’t compete on salaries alone [with employers like LNG Canada] but we can on culture,” and this is why they hired a Human Resources Manager for the first time in 2019.
More changes lie ahead, along with immense opportunity for growth on the north coast.
Power in All Its Forms
It’s all about power, from new V6 and V8 engines to electric vehicles now being produced for iconic models like Porsche and Ford Mustang. Whether you want a gas-powered engine in a sleek new digitized vehicle, or quietly powerful connectivity, the new cars being introduced this spring/summer have something to appeal to all power enthusiasts. Many of these vehicles would have been on display at the 2020 Vancouver International Auto Show.
Mustang Mach-E Set to release in 2021, the Mustang Mach-E boldly fuses modern looks with smart design. For the first time in 55 years, Ford is expanding the Mustang lineup with the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV, joining the sports coupe, convertible and special editions. Mustang Mach-E embodies the Mustang spirit—from its sleek silhouette and muscular curves to exhilarating driving experience and unique driving dynamics and sounds. The Mustang Mach-E instils confidence, with an EPA-estimated 475 km of range. Learn more: ford.ca/suvs/mach-e/2021/
Genesis GV80 The much-anticipated first SUV for the Genesis brand is GV80. It has standard all-wheel drive, suspension tuning, in-car connectivity and an intelligent ADAS camera. It’s the first SUV for the Genesis brand—based on rearwheel-drive architecture unique to Genesis—with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. It introduces world-first innovations in vehicle quietness and suspension tuning. Two turbocharged gasoline engines will be available for the North American market: a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder, and a 3.5-litre V6. Learn more: genesis.com/ca/en/GV80teaser.html
Corvette Stingray The new Chevrolet 2020 C8 Corvette Stingray has auto enthusiasts talking around the world. It takes Corvette’s heritage up a notch as the first mid-engine in Corvette’s 66-year history. The fighter-jet-inspired design maintains the same storage as the coupe, even with the top down. Learn more: chevrolet.ca/en/performance/2020-corvette
Porsche Taycan Porsche presents its first fully electric sports car with the stunning Porsche Taycan. The four-door sports sedan is a unique package, offering typical Porsche performance and connectivity with everyday usability. At the same time, highly advanced production methods and the features of the Taycan are setting new standards in the fields of sustainability and digitalization. Learn more: www. porsche.com/canada/en/models/taycan/taycan-models/
Denali AT4 With the introduction of a new generation of flagship SUVs, the 2021 Yukon and Yukon XL, General Motors continues to strike a chord with class-leading technology and precisely engineered capability. Featuring the most powerful engine in the full-size SUV segment, an all-new 6.2L V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management (standard on Denali), it delivers an estimated 420 horsepower paired with a standard 10-speed transmission. Learn more: gmccanada.ca/en/future-vehicles/2021-yukon
BC Electric Vehicle Rebate Program: More Funding, New Name and New Models
The Province of British Columbia added additional funding of $10 million to the CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Program (re-branded by the government from Clean Energy Vehicle Pointof-Sale Purchase Incentive Program [CEVforBC™ Program]). This occurred in two installments during March 2020. Moreover, another $20 million in program funding was announced in the provincial budget on February 18, 2020.
Top 10 Vehicles – 2020 1st Quarter Paid Out
Hyundai Ioniq BEV, 127
Volkswagen e-Golf, 129
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, 155 Kia Niro PHEV, 59
Hyundai Kona EV, 221
Nissan Leaf, 222 Tesla Model 3, 943
Model 3 Prius Bolt Kia Soul EV, 228
Chevrolet Bolt, 248 Toyota Prius Prime, 292
Soul EV Leaf Kona Outlander e-Golf Ioniq BEV Niro PHEV
Important Program Updates • For updated program forms (Dealer Application Checklist, Letter of Received Rebate, etc.), check the cevforbc.ca website for the latest forms. • During this unprecedented and extraordinary time, due to the rapidly evolving situation on COVID-19, the program team is working from home and will therefore not be taking any meetings in person. However, do not hesitate to reach out by phone or email. Reimbursement payments will be issued with slightly longer intervals. • Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the team will look at each application submission on its own merit and, if need be, make exceptions on a case-by-case basis to the required 15-day submission window. • The cevforbc.ca website will continue to function as per normal, so please submit applications online through the Dealer Portal.
Successful Submission Tips for Eligible Dealers If the Price of Vehicle, as appears on the Bill of Sale or Lease Agreement, is greater than $55,000, please provide the OEM invoice to confirm that the MSRP of the vehicle is equal or less than $55,000.
As stated in the policies, the limit for individuals is one rebate per the lifetime of the program. Therefore, if there is a trade-in ZEV vehicle involved as part of a deal of purchasing/leasing a new eligible vehicle, ensure that the customer is still eligible for a CleanBC rebate before providing the rebate.
Ensure timely submission (within 15 days from date of sale/ delivery) of all claims. If all the documents aren’t ready, you should still submit the application to avoid late submission. Upon submission, you will have 90 days to provide all required supporting documents.
New zero-emission and plug-in hybrid eligible vehicle models added since the last issue of Signals:
