Toyota Business Centres Meet Commercial Vehicle Customers’ Requirements
Toyota’s Business Centre network of 90 dealerships, typically serving two or three dealer outlets each, is now operational and already meeting commercial vehicle customers’ requirements. The new centres are ‘business to business’ operation that bring all the services required under one roof to provide a guaranteed ‘fast track’ solution for busy fleet operators and owner-operators alike.
The Business Centre network was launched in January 2001 to give support to LCV business and corporate fleet business in general. Toyota GB’s Business Centre and Commercial Vehicle Manager, Peter Howarth explains:
“All the business partners have fulfilled a number of criteria in order to achieve Business Centre status. The past year has been spent working towards achieving these new standards set for dealers dedicated to the needs of fleet users – car or light commerical.”
The criteria includes:
- Each site must have at least one dedicated LCV person
- Dedicated office and workshop space for commercial vehicles
- At least three commercial demonstrators each of Hilux, Hiace and Dyna
- Out-of-hours servicing to accommodate customer priorities
- Agree to facilitate local marketing and advertising
Peter Howarth commented on the success so far: “The whole network supports the Business Centres and recognises their value. Mailouts to the customer base has produced positive feedback.”
Jon Pollock General Manager Toyota Fleet added: “Toyota Fleet also offers a call centre facility to support the Business Centres. Our customers want a service that is hassle-free and easy – and that is what they will get. The emphasis now is looking at enhancing our training structure to include a more specific LCV course.”
Toyota’s 2003 year-to-date performance in commercial vehicle sales is strong at 900 units to the end of February with a sales target of just over 8,000 by the end of the year contributing to the overall fleet performance.
Peter Howarth concluded: “The Business Centre network will play a major role in the fleet sales growth as will the new flagship model Toyota Avensis.”
ENDS
