In the Ottawa region, Shiv Dilawri Automotive Group has opened its seventh and largest dealership yet, Kia on Hunt Club. The new facility, which is centrally located in Ottawa’s west end and just minutes from the 416 expressway, measures 49,000 square feet and incorporates two showrooms — a new vehicle display area up front and a secondary showroom behind it. Collectively, they enable almost 150 vehicles to be displayed at any one time, in essence creating a climate controlled sales lot.
“When it’s -30 degrees Celsius outside, it’s a comfortable way to shop for your next car,” says Elias El-Achhab, director of operations for the Shiv Dilawri Automotive Group. “This was a big game changer for us,” El-Achhab says. “The cars have all gone through pre-delivery inspection and are clean and ready to go.”
The new dealership, which opened its doors on November 4th, 2013, also incorporates a state-of-the-art service department with 20 service bays and also a bistro style waiting lounge with comfortable chairs and large tables. “We wanted to spread out our waiting area, creating a Starbucks type theme,” says EL-Achhab. “Our customers can grab a coffee or work on their laptops or tablets in comfort, while they wait for their vehicle.” The lounge area also incorporates a TV and childrens’ play area.
El-Achhab says that in the first month of operation, the dealership ranked among the top 10 Kia stores in Ontario in terms of volume and he says plans are to sell approximately 1500 vehicles in 2014, around 800 new and the rest pre-owned.
