Farmer Autovillage celebrates 30 years

Bay of Plenty’s Farmer Autovillage commemorates its 30th anniversary this month and is keeping a focus on the future.

The Hewletts Road dealership has customer enquiries about electric vehicles increasing – recently installing the first 175kW DC rapid charging station in the Bay of Plenty through the ChargeNet network.

it is seeing changes in a rapidly evolving automotive industry where new technology, new vehicle brands and new purchase systems are appearing, but is also developing the business to continue to interact and support customers and the community in the future.

This year Farmer Autovillage was awarded National Dealer of the Year titles for Audi, Jeep, Volkswagen Commercial, Volkswagen Passenger, and Volkswagen overall, accompanied by a Nissan Dealer Excellence award and 20 individual awards.

“For Audi, we have won Dealer of the Year for the second year running. This is a well-deserved reward for our extremely hard-working and close-knit team,” dealer principal Blair Woolford says.

Established in 1991 as Bay Nissan, the award-winning Bay of Plenty dealership has grown from a downtown Tauranga site with 12 staff selling a single vehicle brand to the current Mt Maunganui-based operation where a team of 170 represent 13 quality vehicle brands and more than 600 new and used vehicles are offered.

Farmer Autovillage has helped many local causes become more mobile, assisting with short-term vehicle loans to workers and volunteers in the community. Numerous charities and groups have enjoyed Farmer Autovillage’s support and encouragement over the years.

To celebrate 30 years, Farmer Autovillage is donating to three local community initiatives during November and with 30 days of giveaways and birthday surprises with selected vehicle purchases.

Farmer Autovillage has also strived in recent years to offer services beyond a simple vehicle purchase, adopting a convenient “one stop shop” approach with total vehicle care services, offering products and services as diverse as roof racks, windscreen repairs and replacements, a wheel and tyre centre and a new paint and alloy wheel repair centre, plus an onsite carwash.

Its vehicle sales, parts and servicing are now available to Coromandel customers with Farmer Autovillage recently establishing a base in Whitianga.

Plans for 2022 include a major upgrade to the dealership’s central hub.

It will feature a new café area, business lounge and offices plus an extended Skoda showroom area for the fast-growing brand now utilised by the New Zealand police force.

Group managing director Mike Farmer says 30 years is an important milestone with the business already gearing up for changes likely to come at an even quicker pace.

“From small beginnings 30 years ago, we have worked hard to ensure we have a team of committed people who genuinely want to make their customers’ vehicle experience the most enjoyable possible, delivering an exceptionally high level of standard with integrity.”