Inchcape expands presence in New Zealand
![](https://www.inchcape.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Colin-Christie-Managing-Director-Inchcape-Australasia-with-Rick-Cooper-Director-Great-Lake-Motor-Distributors-GLMD-right-and-Deon-Cooper-Managing-Director-GLMD-left.png)
Inchcape continues to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, growing its distribution footprint and entering retail operations in the New Zealand market.
Inchcape has completed the acquisition of the distribution, retail, and vehicle leasing operations of New Zealand-based Great Lake Motor Distributors Group.
Expanding the existing distribution footprint in New Zealand, Inchcape proudly welcomes LDV (MAXUS, the commercial arm of SAIC) and SsangYong as distribution brand partners and enters retail operations in New Zealand with five owned dealerships in Auckland, Taupo, Wellington, and Christchurch.
The addition of LDV and SsangYong strengthens Inchcape’s product portfolio across several key segments, including electric vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and SUVs, ensuring Inchcape is poised to offer mobility solutions to meet the variety of customer requirements in New Zealand.
Ruslan Kinebas, CEO, Inchcape APAC, said: “I am excited for our partnership with LDV and SsangYong, and Inchcape’s expanded presence in the New Zealand market. We look forward to combining our local expertise with our leading digital and data capabilities to grow the business further and deliver an enhanced experience journey for our customers.
“This announcement is yet another example of Inchcape’s Accelerate strategy in action, delivering on the Group’s ambition to expand our global footprint and be the undisputed number one distributor of choice.”
Colin Christie, Managing Director Inchcape Australasia, said: “We are pleased to be growing our operations within the New Zealand market and look forward to building on the success and strong partnerships achieved with LDV and SsangYong by Great Lake Motor Distributors.
“With the strong product portfolio across our operations in New Zealand, I am confident that we will be able to accelerate our growth and respond to a diverse range of customer demands for mobility options, including an increasing demand for electric vehicles.”
Rick Cooper, Director Great Lake Motor Distributors, said: “It’s been a fantastic ride over the past decade with thousands of LDV and SsangYong vehicles on the road in New Zealand. The success of the brands has been on the back of the dedication of a fantastic group of staff who have lived and breathed the business beside us.
“The opportunity to pass the baton to Inchcape, a global leader in the automotive industry, was one that couldn’t be passed up. We will look on with interest as they build the brands to the next level, as we see the business we have created transferred to the best hands we could have hoped for. We wish Inchcape and our loyal staff all the very best for the ongoing success of the group.”
As Inchcape expands its presence in the New Zealand market, Wallis Dumper has been appointed Managing Director, Inchcape New Zealand and Subaru of New Zealand, to lead the local operations. Since 2010, Mr. Dumper has held the position of Managing Director, Subaru of New Zealand, having previously been the business leader between 1996 and 2006.
Editor’s note: Inchcape has been the exclusive New Zealand importer and distributor of vehicles manufactured by Subaru Corporation since 1992.
About Inchcape
Inchcape is the leading global automotive distributor, with operations across six continents. Through the unique expertise of our people, our suite of cutting-edge technology products, and our approach to advanced data analytics, we provide the platform for the world’s leading mobility companies to accelerate their ambitions in markets where we and our partners want to succeed.
In Asia-Pacific, we operate across four market clusters. In the Australasia market cluster, we have a diverse portfolio spanning distribution, where we hold the custodianship for some of the worlds most recognised brands; fulfilment, where we are the market leader in integrated, omni-channel automotive fulfilment solutions; retail, where we deliver an exceptional experience at every stage of the customer journey and financial services, where we deliver the right financial services solution to our distribution brand networks, retail businesses and customers.
Inchcape is driven by its purpose of ‘bringing mobility to the world’s communities, for today, for tomorrow and for the better’. We are committed to making a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate, for our people, for society and for the planet. The Group is headquartered in London and employs around 19,000 people globally. Inchcape Australasia employs over 1,300 team members across Australia and New Zealand.
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