In the Zone – Toyota Care Service Zones

There’s no need to feel any angst dropping your vehicle off to be serviced at Toyota dealers as we move towards creating covered drop-off/service areas across our dealer network.

Many dealers have completed covered areas to provide shelter for their customers for dropping off and collecting their vehicles.

The structures developed are either drive-through or have canopy style covers. The covers will shelter customers from the elements as they drop off or pick up their vehicle to or from a service, and will provide more convenient access and a more enjoyable overall service experience.

While the exterior changes will be obvious from the outside, some dealerships are refurbishing the interior as well – both to cater for customers’ needs and to maximise overall efficiencies in energy saving and convenience.

North Shore Toyota’s CEO Mark Jago says that inside their new service area their coffee machine has become a real focal point for customers, who can enjoy macchiatos, lattes and cappuccinos and freshly baked muffins while they wait for their vehicles to be serviced.

“We have had solar panels installed and these are now pumping solar created electricity back into the grid.

We have set up a tablet next to the coffee machine to allow our service advisors to explain to customers our responsible use of electricity. The tablet is linked directly via a data hub to the inverter showing the electricity generated in real time.

"Currently, we are saving around 14-15kg of CO2 per day – the same as an average three-to four-bedroom household would use!,” he says.

Manukau City Toyota Service Manager David Dulihanty says “We are excited about the opportunities opening up as a result of the recent remodelling of our Manukau facility. The major changes include adding a large undercover canopy and doubling the size of the workshop area. The response from customers is very positive. The dealership looks impressive and welcoming, and comments have been passed on to staff that customers are blown away with the change from the last

time they visited our dealership.”

He says, “Toyota is all about continuous improvement and is strongly focused on the customer experience, and our facility allows us to take this to a new level, from meeting and greeting customers in the undercover area to providing a more consistent level of service. The new area means we are not restricted by barriers such as the ever-changing Auckland weather, so the concierge service can now be cemented as part of our everyday service, to provide our customers with a more welcoming service experience.”

Keep an eye out for developments at your local Toyota dealership – and if you see some transformations around the service areas, this is what is likely to be happening.