Melton Toyota’s Grant Harrison. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
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FORWARD BY CHARLENE GATT MELTON Toyota is beefing up its lot in 2012, introducing a luxury range of American Chevrolets that are being driven away before the next fleet comes in. The business finished 2011 on a high, announcing a deal as the sole Victorian agent for Performax International – a Queensland company that imports and converts American Performance vehicles to Australian standards. The partnership means Melton Toyota can now sell Chevrolet Silverados, a truck/ute that appeals to trades people, motorsport enthusiasts, equine enthusiasts and travelling retirees. Melton Toyota managing director Grant Harrison described the Chevrolet Silverado – which boasts a leather interior and satellite navigation – as a luxury vehicle in a truck. The vehicles retail from $120,000. Mr Harrison told Business West that Melton Toyota sold three vehicles in the fortnight after the product launch and sold out its first fleet by mid-December, with at least five people on a waiting list for the next shipment of vehicles. Mr Harrison said they would expand the
fleet over the next 12 months and introduce new vehicles if current demand continues. Mr Harrison is also exploring the possibility of expanding the business and opening a dedicated Performax showroom. “It’s a very small market, we’re just dipping our toes in,” he said. “We had a demonstrator on and I didn’t think we’d sell it, but we did. It’s not like a Toyota or Nissan or Holden… we can order them, but order can take up to four or five months.” The second-generation Melton Toyota brand is thriving as Melbourne’s oldest single-owner car dealer, with the business celebrating its 40th birthday this year. What started off as a small dealership with five staff, a workshop and spare parts area has turned into a thriving five-acre business with 42 employees. The dealership sells over a thousand new cars a year, 400 used cars and does about 400 direct deliveries to car rental companies. It also supplies fleet vehicles for Victoria Police, the State Government, Australia Post and Hertz.
Meanwhile, Ford workers can rest easier knowing that their jobs are secure for at least the next four years, with the Falcon to be produced at the Broadmeadows Assembly Plant until the end of 2016 and possibly beyond. The announcement came last month, with the Federal and State Government set to contribute $34 million towards a total of more than $103 million to increase fuel efficiency and emissions performance in Falcon and Territory models produced in Australia. Federal Minister for Manufacturing Senator Kim Carr made the announcement at the Detroit Motor Show in the United States along with Ford Australia President and CEO Bob Graziano and Ford Asia Pacific and Africa President Joe Hinrichs. “We are working with the company to ensure its future in Australia - this announcement is an important step in our ongoing commitment to strengthen the sector,” Senator Carr said. The State Government will also provide funding for Ford’s 2014 upgrade project, which is set to deliver a new Falcon and strengthen Geelong’s position as a major automotive hub. [BW]
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