VOLVO has announced the winners of its annual Pinnacle Awards of Excellence for 2020 with Volvo Cars South Yarra being named as the brand’s top performing dealership for the third year running.

Elated by a hat-trick of wins, dealer principal Sue Alford said the success was made even sweeter by South Yarra’s sister dealership, Volvo Cars Doncaster, being named runner up.

“To win the Volvo Pinnacle Award for the third consecutive year is an incredible achievement for all of our staff,” she said.

“We are absolutely over the moon in wining this prestigious award and to win it three years in a row is an absolute thrill.

“Volvo Cars Doncaster, our sister dealership attaining the runner up award in the same category, is a further accolade to the hard work of our entire staff for delivering an optimum customer experience to all of our Volvo customers.”

Winning streaks seemed to be the theme of the year in 2020 with Volvo Cars Southern Highlands being named as the nation’s best rural dealership for the fifth consecutive time.

Dealer principal Scott Wakeling described the accolade as an “incredibly proud moment” for the business.

“Our staff continually strive for excellence in customer service which is also acknowledged by the number of individual awards,” he said.

“I want to congratulate our award winners and also thank each and every one of our staff for the way they apply themselves in ensuring the award-winning customer experience.”

Volvo Cars Penrith took top honours for the Metropolitan Award, ahead of the previous year’s winner Volvo Cars Geelong.

According to Volvo Cars Penrith dealer principal John Dunn, 2020 was a year of milestones for the dealership with staff reportedly feeling proud of their roles in Volvo’s “transformation”.

“Winning this award solidifies the work that each and every member of the team strives for and, carry out on a daily basis ensuring that our valued customers get the Volvo experience second to none,” he said.

“We value our Volvo partnership and strive to deliver on the Volvo values which is also demonstrated by the number of individual awards won by our staff.”

All of this year’s winners were congratulated by Volvo Australia managing director Stephen Connor, who said each one recognised dealers and staff were worthy recipients and that the brand’s success was dependent on its commitment to customer service.

“Volvo’s Awards of Excellence recognise and reward our best of the best,” he said.

“Attaining the Pinnacle Award requires the winner to meet a multifaceted set of criteria, including outstanding customer service, sales and market share.”

Volvo Australia notched up 7700 sales nationally in 2020, just 79 units less than it managed in 2019 despite the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To the end of February this year, the Swedish brand is up 36.3 per cent compared to the same period of 2020, equating to an extra 433 units.

By Callum Hunter