ISUZU Australia Limited (IAL) has awarded Ballarat Isuzu with its highest accolade, the Victorian dealership taking the win for the seventh time and the third consecutive year.

From left: IAL COO Andrew Harbison, IAL chief of sales & aftersales Ben Lasry, Ballarat Isuzu DP Ian Deacon, IAL CEO Takeo Shindo and IML director, managing executive officer & EVP Sales Division Tetsuya Ikemoto.

The Dealer of the Year awards were held following another strong year for the brand in 2024, which saw it score its 36th consecutive year of Australian truck market leadership – and it was regional dealerships that stole the show.

Isuzu Parts Dealer of the Year was shared between Geelong Isuzu and Ballarat Isuzu, the latter also taking out Isuzu Service Dealer of the Year and Isuzu Sales Dealer of the Year.

With such a strong performance across all key areas, Ballarat Isuzu took the major award as the overall Isuzu Dealer of the Year for 2024.

Isuzu has more than 70 highly competitive dealer sites nationwide, which the truck-maker says offers an industry-leading approach to sales and aftersales to new and existing truck customers.

Recognising some of its highest-performing dealerships, the IAL Dealer of the Year Awards, held in Melbourne, are judged not only on new vehicle sales but all facets of a dealer business, including customer care, staff training, inventory management, service support and parts supply.

Ballarat Isuzu dealer principal Ian Deacon with IAL director and CEO Mr Takeo Shindo.

Each focus area attracts its own award, with a combination score accounting for the top gong of Isuzu’s Dealer of the Year.

The award structure does not separate metro and regional dealerships, meaning every dealership in the country has the same opportunity to take the title.

Ballarat Isuzu dealer principal Ian Deacon said: “This is the result of the work the team does on a daily basis, so it means a lot to me and a lot to them as well.”

“I’m really proud of our performance over the past 12 months. With the opening of the new site in July last year, we have been incredibly busy, so a lot of work has been done to achieve these awards.

“Ultimately, it’s always about the customer and their experience—if you can get that right, you get the desired results.”

IAL head of network development Nathan Ton praised the winners and the broader dealer network for an outstanding year.

Geelong Isuzu dealer principal Jason Cunliffe receives a shared Parts Dealer of the Year award from IAL director and CEO Mr Takeo Shindo.

“These awards validate the dealers’ work to ensure customers have the right truck, the best sales service and outstanding aftersales support that keeps them on the road,” Mr Ton said.

“As we have seen the need for heavy vehicles across the breadth of Australian industry has broadly maintained its momentum throughout 2024.

“Our congratulations go out to Ian Deacon, who leads an outstanding team that embodies a customer focus and commitment to growth that makes the Isuzu Trucks brand proud in the Ballarat region.

“IAL continues to work with the network to look at opportunities for even better coverage and to maximise the benefits for customers.”

Isuzu also recently held its 2024 Dealer Excellence Awards which were won by Ballarat Isuzu; Canberra Isuzu (ACT); Dwyers Truck Centre (NSW); Major Motors (WA); Patterson Cheney Trucks (VIC); South West Isuzu (WA); Suttons Motors Arncliffe (NSW); Wagga Motors (NSW); and Westar Truck Centre (VIC).