Articles by Martin Rasini

James Frizelle Automotive Group has been quick to lock in business at its new $20 million Robina facility which opened at the start of September.The facility boasts Hyundai, Mazda, Volkswagen and used-vehicle showrooms along with cutting-edge workshops and customer amenities. The showrooms share 4950sq m of floorspace and 93 parking bays and each features display, administration and parts areas.They offer driveway service, house 31 vehicle-servicing bays, and client amenities include lounge areas and wi-fi-enabled workspaces. Hyundai Australia marked the advent of its new showroom on Thursday last week when chief executive Charlie Kim joined with Frizelle Group principals, father and son team James and Brett Frizelle, to host more than 150 guests including Mayor Tom Tate, Titans head coach John Cartwright, Titans players, customers and staff.The Frizelle group began selling Hyundai vehicles on the Gold Coast in 1987 and, Brett Frizelle said, heads the list of Queensland dealerships for sales. The Robina facility complements the group's Southport and Tweed outlets and, Mr Frizelle said, has been welcomed by the area's community with sales "exceeding targets"."We are delighted with the way sales are travelling," he said. Mr Frizelle said the advent of the Robina venue had seen the company employ 52 additional staff, lifting group employee numbers to 503. "We have put new staff through intensive training and have relocated existing staff who want to be at Robina, so there is a good mix of experience and new employees," he said."The location is easy to access from anywhere on the Coast and farther afield and we have many customers in the surrounding area for whom the facilities will be a boon. "We expect the Robina business to become a highly significant part of the group's operations."The new facilities occupy a 1.5ha site within Robina Automall, the city's only dedicated vehicle precinct, which is also home to Grand Motors Mercedes, Von Bibra Motors, Hinterland Toyota, and complementary businesses. James Frizelle Automotive Group dealerships also include Audi, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Skoda marques. 

Channel 9 personality Natalie Gruzlewski added some glamour to the newly launched Lexus showroom at Southport when she was lured back to the small screen to film the luxury car dealership's new television commercials.The former Gold Coast News weather girl and host of The Farmer Wants a Wife, who is married to property developer Jack Ray, in February gave birth to daughter Olivia.She has now added Lexus of Southport ambassador to her list of duties.When word of her appearance spread, so did the number of Lexus staff who suddenly had a reason to visit the showroom.Natalie starred alongside the Lexus range of innovative hybrids, dynamic F Sport vehicles and the exciting IS F and rare LFA Supercar.The Supercar is a star in its own right - one of only 10 LFAs in Australia and 500 in the world. Only three are garaged in southeast Queensland.No longer in production, the vehicle retailed for $750,000.It set a record of 7min 14sec for the fastest production car using road tyres around Nurburgring in Germany.The two television and radio commercials featuring Natalie will highlight the showroom features available to Lexus owners. 

The facilities – set to open in August in the Gold Coast’s only dedicated vehicle precinct -- will house the group's Mazda, Hyundai, and prestige used-vehicle dealerships.They will complement the group's Southport and Tweed outlets and will comprise three showrooms, each with workshop facilities along with customer amenities. The construction project is understood to represent a $10 million investment for the company which is rolling out the facilities on a 1.5ha site at 4 Brabham Circuit.The Frizelle motor group will join the Grand Motors, Von Bibra Motors, and Hinterland Toyota dealerships at the Automall, which also is home to a number of complementary businesses. Its site was purchased at a cost of $9.57 million from RPA Properties in a deal that settled in 2011.The Frizelle group called tenders for the showroom project in October and the construction contract was awarded to Condev, which launched initial siteworks before Christmas. The showroom facilities, conceived by Design Imagery, will share 4950sq m of floorspace and 93 parking bays and each will feature display space, parts and administration areas.They will offer driveway service, house a combined 31 vehicle-servicing bays, and accommodate a range of client facilities including lounge areas and wi-fi-enabled work spaces. The two brand-specific buildings will comply with Mazda and Hyundai corporate image guidelines and all buildings will feature LED lighting to minimise power use.They also will utilise low-emission, energy-efficient glazing to minimise the airconditioning load. Rainwater will be stored for irrigation and general dealership usage. The group's dealer principal, James Frizelle, said the project represented a significant growth milestone for the business and had been made possible by the company's strong customer base."We strongly believe the market will support the expansion at Robina and we will continue to strive to provide top-level sales and after-sales care for our customers," he said. Executive Brett Frizelle said the Automall project presented a prime market area opportunity for the group's Mazda and Hyundai marques which were continuing to grow market share."We have confidence that the Coast market will continue to grow and there is the convenience factor for existing customers of the central-city location," he said. "We also see big opportunities in the used-car segment. "We expect to sell 11,000 vehicles in calendar 2013 and are trading a large number of high-quality vehicles."The Frizelle Automotive Group's dealerships also include Audi, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Skoda marques. 

The company, associated with Jamie Cartwright, operated from premises on the corner of Ferry Rd and Spendelove Ave, Southport, and held Renault, Citroen, Chery and Isuzu Ute dealerships. It ceased trading on August 8 when it was placed in voluntary administration and came under the control of Giles Woodgate, of Sydney accountancy practice Woodgate and Co. Practice representative Richard Rawley said yesterday while it was too early to place a figure on the company's secured and unsecured debts, the entity would not trade again. ``We are continuing our investigations and the company will be liquidated,'' he said. ``Last year was a particularly tough year for the company, and there has to be a buffer in place if a business is to survive a downturn.'' Mr Rawley said 29 staff had been employed by the company, and it was unlikely available company funds would cover staff entitlements. The Cartwright Group began life as an MG and Rover dealership around 2001, retaining the two marques until 2005 when their British manufacturer collapsed. It retained a Lotus dealership and secured its Renault dealership shortly before the British manufacturer's collapse, later adding the Citroen, Chery and Isuzu Ute marques. The company's 1117sq m premises at 4 Spendelove Ave were acquired by Mr Cartwright in June 2006 for $1.2 million. An adjoining 589sq m holding at 6 Spendelove Ave was acquired in early 2008 for $950,000. The holding company for the properties, Jamie Cartwright Pty Ltd, is not in administration.  

The two-level building will have 2500-3000sq m of floorspace, the latest technology and facilities, and position the family business as the only BMW dealership on the NSW coast north of Port Macquarie. Approvals are in place for the development, to occupy part of a 5702sq m site bounded by Boyd, Wharf and Recreation streets. It offers water views and was acquired in March 2010 for $5.8 million. A six-storey commercial building with ground-level retail precinct is also earmarked for the holding, to be developed at a later date. The landholding was amalgamated by the Scott family, which ran Scotts Market Basket, a fruit and vegetable barn, on the site. It is close to the Tweed showroom and service centre of fellow Gold Coast auto industry figure Warren von Bibra, who holds Holden and other dealerships. Buildings on the remaining portion of the site will be tenanted. Group principal Beric Lynton said the growth occurring in northern NSW made this an opportunity not to be missed. "We are in the cars business and we believe some people choose brands because of the servicing options,'' he said. "The Bruce Lynton Group sells many cars into NSW where we have a customer base of 2000 in cities and communities as far south as Grafton and west to Lismore, Casino and beyond. "The new facility will include 10 or 12 servicing bays and enable us to offer a high level of service for our NSW customers and be beneficial in lifting sales. "It also will provide a servicing option for customers who live on the southern Gold Coast and may prefer to travel to Tweed Heads. The facility will include a small parts operation and will offer servicing for BMW, Land Rover and Mini.'' Mr Lynton said there were no plans at this stage to establish sales or servicing operations in Tweed Heads for Alfa Romeo and Fiat. He was working with the architects, Burling Brown, and a builder to finalise design and would like to see construction begin this year. "Innovations have been introduced at a number of European dealerships and we want to ensure that the new facility is abreast of all new developments,'' he said. "It has been suggested that I look at the BMW dealership in Singapore and evaluate new equipment that gathers information about a vehicle coming in for service as it drives past.''