Bavaria BMW SETS A HIGH STANDARD By Fay Fletcher
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ome people take their life’s passion and turn it into a hobby. Other people take their life’s passion and create a successful Edmonton business that greatly enhances the community, the lives of the employees and the lives of their customers. Klaus Maier, president of Bavaria BMW, falls into the latter category. “I’ve always, from a young age, loved BMW cars, and have always found the automotive industry to be fascinating,” reminisces Maier. “I first started in the automotive industry by acquiring and buying a gas station and repair shop in 1988. Shortly after that, I bought into, as a partner, a BMW dealership in Edmonton, and eventually went on to buy out my partners. As my business grew, Bavaria has moved two times and is now located in our new state-of-the-art dealership on 189 street and Stony Plain Road.” Coincidentally, 1988 – the year Maier became the proud owner of his own gas and repair shop – was the same year Bavaria BMW opened for business. The BMW brand is the most recognized brand in the world. It stands out because of the high level of engineering and design. BMW cars are virtually perfectly balanced, 50/50, making it a much better handling vehicle than most other manufacturers. Bavaria BMW keeps between 250 – 350 cars on the lot, depending on the time of year. The lot features new and preowned vehicles, including Maier’s favourite, the M class. “I love the M class vehicles due to their high performance and
handling,” he smiles. “I have owned many BMWs over the years and I keep coming back to the M class. They are fun to drive.” In addition to the many fine vehicles at Bavaria BMW, you will also find a staff of 72, all ready to offer you outstanding customer service. The employee group includes long-term employees Joyce Tiffinger, secretary treasurer, and David Cruikshank, a technician; both have 22 years of service at the dealership. Bavaria BMW staff are always cheerful, and it’s not just because of the wonderful incentives each member enjoys, such as the “Drive Your Own Brand” program, where the staff get to drive a new BMW for a year at an extremely low payment. The sales team is informative, helpful and they don’t apply any pressure so that your experience at Bavaria BMW is a great one. “What makes us different from the rest of the BMW dealerships is that we strive to have a friendly and inviting atmosphere,” says Maier. “A lot of luxury automobile manufacturers sometimes make customers feel uncomfortable, and we strive to always make our customers feel at home, every day, every time, without fail, with no exceptions. “My advice is to take your time and make sure you know the history of the vehicle, and do your research before you decide to purchase a used vehicle,” Maier continues. “Ultimately, if you buy it from a BMW dealership, the warranties are usually
Bavaria BMW | 25 Years | 1