Hino recognises top dealers

Hino Australia has recognised its leading dealership and dealer staff, with it 2018 Dealer of the Year awards held recently at the Westin Hotel in Sydney.

Victorian dealership Prestige Hino, located in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, top out top honours for the fourth consecutive year to claim the title of Metropolitan Dealer of the Year, while Newcastle Hino was crowned Regional Dealer of the Year – a title that dealership has held for four of the last six years.

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Prestige Hino Dealer Principal, Angelo Valerio, thanked his team for its exceptional performance through 2018.

"As I walk into the dealership each day I can see every employee is committed to our customers and to their team – our managers have done an exceptional job driving the performance culture each day," he said.

"I look forward to 2019, because if the last four years are any indication, our team will continue to improve on what we currently have to excel even further for Hino and our customers, which we hope will result in a sixth Dealer of the Year title for Prestige Hino."

Newcastle Hino Dealer Principal, Kevin Purcell, said he was delighted with the award.

"Our team is focused on being the best that we can possibly be, and to have our efforts recognised and applauded is awesome," he said.

"I am immensely proud of everybody at Newcastle Hino and it is a continuing pleasure and privilege to lead such a committed group of people."

Prestige Hino also laid claim to having the 2018 Salesperson of the Year, the accolade going to the Melbourne dealership's Danny Timewell.

For the first year, the Customer Experience Awards were split between Sales and Service departments, and awarded at both a regional and metropolitan level.

Pacific Hino (Cairns) was successful in clinching the Customer Experience – Service award at a regional level, while Sydney's Adtrans Hino won the metropolitan title.

In the Customer Service – Sales title, the metropolitan title was awarded to Prestige Hino and the regional crown went to Port Augusta's Northpoint Hino.

West Orange Motors was recognised for its 40-year partnership with Hino.

Hino Motor Sales Australia Chairman and CEO, Steve Lotter, credited the brand's excellent results to the strong dealership network and the efforts of the Hino Motor Sales Australia team.

"With an increase in sales of 17 per cent in 2018 compared with 2017, Hino outperformed the market, taking our market share to 15.8 per cent – likewise we achieved record results in both the service and parts divisions of the business," he said.

"Our ongoing focus on the customer has translated to a continued high customer experience score, which provides us with the strong foundation we require for further growth."

Among the 300 guests at the evening were new Hino Australia President and COO Sam (Takashi) Suda, Hino Motors Limited's Megumu Yamashiki (Managing Officer), and Supercars legend and Hino Ambassador Neil Crompton, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

2018 Hino Dealer of the Year Results
Metropolitan Dealer of the Year: Prestige Hino, Dandenong, Vic
Regional Dealer of the Year: Newcastle Hino, NSW
Hino Financial Services Award: CMI Hino Adelaide, SA

Customer Experience – Sales
Northpoint Hino, Port Augusta, SA (Regional class)
Prestige Hino, Dandenong, Vic (Metropolitan class)

Customer Experience – Service
Pacific Hino, Cairns, Qld (Regional class)
Adtrans Hino, Smeaton Grange, Mascot and Gosford, NSW (Metropolitan class)

Salesperson of the Year
Danny Timewell, Prestige Hino, Melbourne

Sales Excellence (Metro)
GOLD – Prestige Hino, Dandenong, Vic
SILVER – Adtrans Hino, Smeaton Grange, Mascot and Gosford, NSW
BRONZE – WA Hino Sales & Service, Perth, WA

Sales Excellence (Regional)
GOLD – Illawarra Hino, NSW
SILVER – Newcastle Hino, NSW
BRONZE – Tait Motors, Goondiwindi, Qld

Parts Excellence (Metro)
GOLD – CMI Hino Melbourne, Vic
SILVER – Sci-Fleet Hino, Brisbane, Qld
BRONZE – WA Hino Sales & Service, Perth, WA

Parts Excellence (Regional)
GOLD – Bunbury Trucks, WA
SILVER – Pacific Hino, Qld
BRONZE – Sci-Fleet Hino Nerang, Qld

Service Excellence (Metro)
GOLD – CMI Hino Adelaide, SA
SILVER – Prestige Hino, Dandenong, Vic
BRONZE – Adtrans Hino, Smeaton Grange, Mascot & Gosford, NSW

Service Excellence (Regional)
GOLD – Honeycombes Sales & Service, Townsville, Qld
SILVER – Coffs Harbour Hino, NSW
BRONZE – Bendigo Truck Centre, Vic