Lexus of Auckland City has moved to a vastly upsized and vastly more upmarket facility in Newmarket, at 21 Great South Road.
Owner Giltrap Group says the new showroom has "eschewed the typical exterior car yard and sales office format". All facilities, from the customer lounge to the car displays, are indoors. Even customer parking is located within the new building.
Sharlene Van Dijk, Lexus of Auckland City chief executive officer, says the new site is an "iconic building... which now proudly houses the Lexus brand".
The site has been a mainstay of the Auckland luxury-car retail scene for decades; most recently, it was home to Alfa Romeo and Maserati. It's been substantially redesigned to suit Lexus.
The new Lexus of Auckland City site has a fully enclosed 2800-square-metre footprint. At least 48 Lexus vehicles are on site, as well as EV charging for six vehicles. There are 34 staff members at the new dealership.
Service customers will have the option of a courtesy loan vehicle, an Uber voucher or a drop-off service.
Lexus New Zealand vice president Andrew Davis says the new store reflects where Lexus as a marque is heading in New Zealand: “We’re embracing electrification as a core part of the brand's future, with a growing range of electrified vehicles that align with the country's increasing demand for low carbon transportation options."
Today's opening of the new dealership in Newmarket also means the end of the former Lexus of Auckland City site on Great North Road, which has now closed.
Other Lexus franchise upgrades around the country include a new Lexus of Christchurch on Tuam Street (opened in May); Lexus of East Auckland is in construction in Botany, and Lexus of Wellington is planning to move to a new location in Taranaki Street in early-2025.