Toyota honours Europe’s top retailers with 2026 Ichiban Awards in the Algarve
- 47 retailers from 34 countries recognised with the 2026 Toyota Ichiban Award
- 7 retailers distinguished with the Going Beyond Award across key excellence categories
- GOTA CAR DOO (Serbia) receives Ichiban Excellence Award as a 12-time winner
- Ceremony held in the Algarve, Portugal, celebrating performance, partnership and progress
Algarve, Portugal, 4 June 2026 – Toyota Motor Europe has celebrated 47 of its highest-performing retailers with the 2026 Ichiban Award, recognising excellence in customer experience across its European network of more than 2,200 retail operations. Representing 34 countries, this year’s winners exemplify Toyota’s commitment to putting customers first, every day.
Our Ichiban winners show what it truly means to earn customer trust every single day. They don’t just meet expectations, they anticipate them, shape them and raise the bar for our entire network. Their ability to adapt, collaborate and continuously improve is what will define the future of Toyota in Europe.
In addition, seven retailers were honoured with the Going Beyond Award, recognising exceptional achievements across strategic, customer, employee, sustainability and mobility domains.
A special highlight of this year’s ceremony was the Ichiban Excellence Award, presented to GOTA CAR DOO (Serbia) in recognition of an outstanding milestone as a 12-time Ichiban winner, a testament to long-term consistency and commitment to excellence.
Celebrating excellence in the Algarve
The 2026 Ichiban event took place from 2 to 4 June at the Viceroy at Ombria, Algarve, bringing together top-performing retailers in a setting that reflects both innovation and sustainability.
The gathering provided an opportunity to recognise achievements, exchange best practices and reinforce the shared ambition of delivering ever-better mobility experiences.
2026 Ichiban Award winners
A total of 47 retailers from 34 countries received the 2026 Ichiban Award. The full list of winners is available below:
| Country | Retailer |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Auto Nuić d.o.o. |
| Croatia | Ark Mihelić d.o.o. |
| Serbia | GOTA CAR DOO Novi Sad |
| Slovenia | AC FRI-MOBIL d.o.o. |
| Austria | Autohaus Prem GmbH |
| Bulgaria | Глобалкар Toyota Стара Загора |
| Estonia | Elke Mustamäe |
| Latvia | WESS Motors Berģi |
| Lithuania | Tokvila |
| Belgium | De Bruyn Vilvoorde |
| Georgia | Toyota Center Tegeta |
| Hungary | Koto Autóház Kft. |
| Czech Republic | AUTOSTYL a.s. |
| Slovakia | Autoklub, a.s. (POP) |
| Denmark | Bil & Co. A/S, Sønderborg |
| Finland | Oy Autoliike Nystedt Bilaffär Ab, Pietarsaari |
| France | Garage Arnaud - Groupe LAFON |
| GCA Alençon – Groupe GCA | |
| Garage Nello Cheli – Groupe CHELI | |
| Germany | Autohaus Nix GmbH |
| Autohaus Eifel Mosel GmbH | |
| Autohaus Rosenheinrich GmbH | |
| Greece | ΙΩΑΝΝΙΔΗΣ ΙΚE |
| Ireland | Toyota Liffey Valley |
| Israel | Rechev Rishon LTD |
| Italy | Td Car |
| Rivauto | |
| Novauto | |
| Kazakhstan | Тойота Шымкент |
| Netherlands | ADG Emmen |
| Norway | Bøgh Hafsø Bilforretning |
| Poland | Toyota Nowakowski – Bielany Wrocławskie |
| Toyota Jaworski Auto – Włocławek | |
| Toyota Warszawa Radość | |
| Portugal | Caetano Auto Porto |
| Romania | NEW WAVEMOTORS |
| Spain | NIMO GORDILLO |
| AURA MOTOR | |
| EUSKOAUTO | |
| Sweden | Erlings Bil, Uddevalla |
| Switzerland | Garage Berset SA |
| Turkey | Toyota Plaza Timurağaoğlu |
| Toyota Plaza ALJ Ankara | |
United Kingdom
| Vantage Toyota York |
| FRF Toyota (Newport) | |
| Vantage Toyota Scarborough | |
| Ukraine | Toyota Center Lviv Diamant |
Going Beyond Award winners:
This year’s Going Beyond Award were presented to retailers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the following key areas:
Category | Retailer | Country |
| Strategic Partner | Autohaus Nix GmbH | Germany |
| Contribution to Society | Aura Motor | Spain |
| Customer Excellence | Toyota Scarborough | United Kingdom |
| Employer of Choice | New Wavemotors | Romania |
| Green Retailer | Toyota Plaza Timurağaoğlu | Turkey |
| Mobility | TD Car | Italy |
| Multipath | Erlings Bil, Uddevalla | Sweden |
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (Gazoo Racing) and Lexus vehicles and parts and accessories, as well as Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs over 26,000 people and has invested over EUR 12 billion in Europe since 1990. Its eight European manufacturing plants are located in Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey. Today, there are approximately 15. 6 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 National Marketing and Sales Companies and around 2,300 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (EU, UK, EFTA countries , Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2025, TME sold 1,229,000 vehicles in Europe for a 7.2% market share. For more information, visit www.toyota-europe.com.
Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is possible. In the pursuit of "Mobility for All", Toyota aims to create safer, more connected, inclusive and sustainable mobility to achieve its mission of producing “Happiness for All”. In Europe, TME launched the KINTO mobility brand which offers a range of mobility services in 20 countries, and is growing its business-to-business sales of fuel cell products and engineering support. Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Toyota is working to achieve carbon neutrality in its entire business across Europe by 2040.