OpenRoad Driver Volume 12 Issue 1 | Page 102

100 » OpenRoad Driver OpenRoad Acquires Premium Centres » The BMW Store, MINI Yaletown and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver have joined the OpenRoad Auto Group. “By adding three iconic brands and some of the best automotive professionals in the industry, it makes for a very bright future at OpenRoad,” said president Christian Chia in announcing the acquisition. “Having a presence in downtown Vancouver and Kitsilano has been a dream of mine for many years,” he added. Chia lauded The BMW Store as the preeminent BMW retailer in the country, noting its pioneer and landmark status in the community. The BMW Store has a rich 45-year history in Vancouver as the first BMW retail centre in Canada. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver becomes the first ultra-luxury centre to join OpenRoad. OpenRoad is now the only authorized Rolls-Royce retailer in western Canada. The marque celebrated 110 years of history this past year. The MINI Yaletown boutique is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver in trendy and urban Yaletown, in a location that is well suited to the hip brand. The addition of the three retail centres brings the number of staff associates at OpenRoad to 800. General Manager Dimitri Kotsalis said, “The 130 employees that have proudly represented these three distinguished brands have greeted the acquisition with open arms. I look forward to the world of possibilities that lay ahead of us as part of this celebrated automotive group.” The three locations were previously owned by Fields Automotive Group of the United States. The BMW Store receives two top awards. The centre achieves top sales of BMW M cars in British Columbia while Neil Shah is awarded top BMW salesperson in the province. Pictured: Christian Chia, President; Michael Chase, General Sales Manager; Neil Shah, BMW Gold Sales Master; Allan Chan, New Car Manager; Dimitri Kotsalis, General Manager