New Zealand’s Southpac Trucks has been named Kenworth Dealer of the Year 2017.
The accolade is regarded as the one of the industry’s most sought-after prize for dealers and is open to Kenworth distributors across Australia and New Zealand.
The award is based on a points system across five main areas including overall dealer performance, truck sales, parts sales, finance and customer support.
This is the first time the Southpac dealership has won the prize.
The company are also winners of the PACCAR Australia Service Dealer of the Year 2017 for outstanding service.
PACCAR Australia sales and marketing director Brad May says the Southpac team put on an impressive performance.
“Southpac Trucks is an exemplary example of how, when a team works together to deliver superior value for its customers, it can achieve great results.
“This dealer continues to be successful because of its single-minded commitment to customers.
“They had a really big year and while they did all the things that were expected, it was the way the team at Southpac supports its customers, providing superior service and doing everything right by the customer in every facet of the business.
“Their continued investment in new dealership’s and facility upgrades, training their people is outstanding and the result is evident.
“It would be difficult to find another group that has the culture of success and growth mindset that Southpac Trucks has,” May says.
Southpac owners Maarten Durent and Graeme Gibbons received the awards at a prize giving dinner last week in Port Douglas, Queensland.
“There was a huge effort put in by everyone across the entire company and the New Zealand dealer network and it is great for them to be recognised for all their hard work.
“We are so proud to win this and are looking forward to sharing it with everyone,” Durent says.
Meanwhile, Gibbons says the award is recognition of the company’s commitment to customer service.
“We just work to solve all customer issues upfront and worry about the detail later.
“We love what we do and love trucks and to receive this award makes a great thing even better,” Gibbons says.
Southpac has its head office in Manukau and branches in Hamilton, Rotorua and Christchurch. It’s supported by 18 parts and service dealers across New Zealand.
Its custom-built sales, new truck preparation, service and parts complex features an expansive showroom as well as a yard stocked with a full range of Kenworth’s as well as other PACCAR brands such as DAF.
