KIA Australia has announced Victorian dealerships Ferntree Gully Kia and Echuca Kia as the joint overall national winners of its 2022 Dealer of the Year awards.

The South Korean importer says it is the first time in the history of the awards that two dealers have shared the top prize. It is also the first time a rural dealership has taken home the coveted award.

Like many others of its type, Kia’s Dealer of the Year awards recognise sales and aftersales performance, facilities, customer satisfaction and business management.

This year’s awards, which Kia Australia says acknowledge the significant contribution of its strong dealer network towards the brand’s most successful year yet, were presented by recently promoted chief executive officer, Damien Meredith, at its national dealer conference late last month.

“The Kia Dealer Awards are a celebration of the expertise, dedication and professionalism shown by our dealer network in delivering the highest levels of care and satisfaction to all of our customers” said Mr Meredith.

“On behalf of everyone at Kia Australia, I’d like to thank the dealer network for the trust shown in every part of our relationship. Last year was our most successful year together, and the strong bond we have fostered with our network through the years became even closer.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the Ferntree Gully Kia team, managing director, Cameron Doidge, said the dealership was “honoured to be awarded Kia Dealer of the Year for 2022, making this our fourth win in 10 years of operating the business”.

“The dedication and commitment of our staff and our fantastic customer base is what drives us to excel every year,” he said.

On behalf of the winning team at Echuca Kia, dealer principal, Duane Johns, said: “Echuca Kia is extremely honoured to receive this prestigious award, which couldn’t have come about without the dedication of our staff members and the support of the Echuca-Moama community who have invested in the Kia brand.

“To be the only rural dealer in Kia’s history to receive the National award is quite an achievement.”

2022 Dealer of the Year winners:

• National DOTY Winner (Ferntree Gully Kia & Echuca Kia, VIC)\
• Western Region DOTY (Morley Kia, WA)
• Central Region DOTY (Wayne Phillis Kia, SA)
• Northern Region DOTY (Brendale Kia, QLD)
• Eastern Region DOTY (Paul Wakeling Kia, NSW)
• Southern Region DOTY (Ferntree Gully Kia & Echuca Kia, VIC)
• Top Sales DOTY (Motorama Kia Moorooka, QLD)
• Top Aftersales Operations DOTY (Mandurah Kia, WA)

By Matt Brogan