Showrooms get $8 million rebuild

About $8 million is being invested in new Toyota and Lexus showrooms at Townsville.

Dealer principal Mike Carney said yesterday the move was being driven by a need to improve its customer service and experience as well as the fact that the businesses had outgrown its current facilities. “People ask me why you would pull down a perfectly good building but that's progress,” Mr Carney said. “If you don't (upgrade), you don't have an efficient business.”

Toyota and its premium brand Lexus shared a building providing showrooms at the corner of Duckworth St and Stock Route Way at Garbutt. Work started recently to demolish the structure and build two new adjoining showrooms Lexus facing Stock Route Way and Toyota facing Duckworth St. Meanwhile, the businesses are continuing to operate from adjoining used car premises in the Carney group, also on Duckworth Street.

Mr Carney said the new showrooms would include display areas, under-cover airconditioned vehicle delivery points, customer lounges, children's play area, new staff and administration areas and under-cover links to existing service and parts workshops. A mezzanine level in the showroom building would provide space for training and functions.

Mr Carney said bringing sales, service and parts together was a big factor in the thinking behind the design of the new premises. Service for Lexus customers was also being improved. “We wanted customers to feel that once they bought a car, there were the support services available as part of the package,” he said.

Mr Carney said car retailing in Australia was buoyant and competitive, despite the intervention of the global financial crisis. The sector was also affordable with prices for new cars much the same as they were 20 years ago. “You get a lot more features in a car than before so it's better value for money,” he said.

The new showrooms are expected to open early next year.