Paris,
29
July
2024
|
12:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Toyota recognises its best European retailers for delivering exceptional customer experience

Summary
  • Toyota celebrates 46 of its best performing retailers against the backdrop of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 
  • Additionally, five retailers are recognised for Going Beyond in five categories, including Front line for Tomorrow, Customer Excellence, Employer of Choice, Contribution to Society and Service Mobility Provider. 

Paris, 29 July 2024 – Ichiban in Japanese means ‘number one’. It is also a name given to  the prestigious award which Toyota Motor Europe (TME) awards every year to a few retailers that excel in delivering exceptional value to customer. 

Every year more than 2,500 compete for a chance to be named the Best Retailer in Town. This year, 46 retailers from 35 countries have been honoured for their commitment Customer First mindset. Five of them also received a special Going Beyond Award, that celebrates their approach to sustainability, delivering excellence in mobility and contribution to society.

I am delighted to congratulate the 46 winners of the Ichiban Award, who have demonstrated their excellence in customer satisfaction, quality, and innovation. They are the true ambassadors of Toyota's vision of providing mobility for all, and they have gone above and beyond to meet the diverse needs and expectations of our customers. They are the reason why Toyota has achieved a record sales performance in Europe, and I am proud to celebrate their achievements today. Attending the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, we are inspired by the spirit of excellence, teamwork, and respect that these retailers embody. They are the best of the best, and they are our Ichiban.

Yoshihiro Nakata, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe

As a worldwide mobility partner of the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, Toyota organised the Ichiban Summit – one of its most important annual events – within the environment of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The invited retailers had the opportunity to experience Paris, which is transformed for the Games, and take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Games.  

We, as car companies, sometimes forget that our job is not just to help customers conquer physical mobility but to challenge ourselves to deliver mobility of the mind, of information, and of the heart. Simply put, we need to connect our customers in new ways that bring the most value to society. The dealers we honour at this year’s Ichiban ceremony understand this deeply and represent the true spirit of Toyota in our effort to bring happiness to all.

Dr Gill Pratt, Chief Scientist of Toyota Motor Corporation and CEO of Toyota Research Institute

Going Beyond Award winners 

Going Beyond Award 

Country 

Winner 

Front line for Tomorrow 

Latvia 

Wess Motors Berģi 

 

Customer Excellence 

Turkey 

Toyota Plaza Aktoy 

Employer of Choice 

Sweden 

Lindströms Bil, Falköping 

Contribution to Society 

Israel 

Oded Reichman Ltd’ 

Service Mobility Provider 

Italy 

A. Corvi S.r.l. 

ICHIBAN winners

Country 

Winner 

Austria 

Keusch GmbH 

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Bunjo d.o.o. Sarajevo 

Croatia 

Futura Auto Varaždin  

Serbia 

Tago Car Novi Sad 

Slovenia 

Toyota Center Ljubljana  

Bulgaria 

ТМ АУТО  Toyota София Запад 

Estonia 

Elke Rakvere 

Latvia 

Wess Motors Berģi 

Lithuania 

Solorina  

Belgium 

Toyota Vernaillen & C° 

Azerbaijan 

Toyota Center Ganja LLC 

Hungary 

Balla Euro Kft.  

Czech Republic 

Dolák s.r.o, Příbram 

Slovakia 

Autoklub a. s. 

Denmark 

Bil & Co. A/S, Kolding 

Finland 

Saimaan Auto-Arita Oy, Lappeenranta 

France 

GCA Le Mans 

France 

Central Parc Auto Montluçon MONTLUÇON 

France 

STA 78 La Verriere   

Germany 

Autowelt GmbH 

Germany 

Autohaus Peene GmbH 

Germany 

Rüdinger Automobile 

Greece 

ΟΥΣΤΡΙΑΣ Α.Ε.  

Ireland 

Dermot Hughes Cars 

Israel 

Oded Reichman Ltd’ 

Italy 

A. Corvi S.r.l. 

Italy 

Fuji Auto S.r.l. 

Italy 

AD Motors S.p.A. 

Kazakhstan 

Toyota Center Kostanay 

Netherlands 

Toyota Van Ekris in Mijdrecht 

Norway 

Bøgh Hafsø Bilforretning AS 

Poland 

Toyota Dobrygowski Wrocław Długołęka 

Poland 

Toyota Auto Park Białystok 

Poland 

Toyota Kamiński Konin 

Portugal 

Caetano Auto Porto 

Romania 

Profi Auto  

Spain 

Nimo Gordillo Automoviles   

Spain 

Hybrid Cars  

Spain 

Aura Motor  

Sweden 

Lindströms Bil, Falköping 

Turkey 

Toyota Plaza Aktoy  

Turkey 

Toyota Plaza Toyan  

United Kingdom  

Vantage Toyota (Scarborough) 

United Kingdom  

Vantage Toyota (York) 

United Kingdom  

Vantage Toyota (Preston) 

Ukraine 

Тойота Центр Київ ВІДІ Автострада  

Notes to the editor:

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 25,000 people and has invested over EUR 11 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 16.5 million Toyota, GR and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 National Marketing and Sales Companies and around 2,800 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (EU, UK, EFTA countries + Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2022, TME sold 1,080,975 vehicles in Europe for a 6.4% market share. For more information, visit Facts & Figures (toyota.eu) and 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 14 countries, and is growing its business-to-business sales of zero-emission 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. A historic leader in CO2 reduction in Europe, TME aims to achieve 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles in Western Europe by 2035 and will continue to offer a full range of electrified powertrains to customers across the region with its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery and fuel cell electric vehicles.