Toyota breaks new ground

Toyota Jamaica Limited has broken ground for its newest location, with the objective

of providing customers

with greater convenience

and continuing its high-level customer service.

The ceremony, which was attended by Industry and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton; general manager of Toyota Tsusho America Inc, Hiroshi Kitahara; and Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica Yasuo Takase, along with a number Toyota customers, was held last Wednesday at the 91A-93 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, site.

This 26,000-square foot

facility, which Toyota Jamaica Limited expects to be ready by January 2016, is a full '3s' set-up which encompasses vehicle sales, servicing and spare parts. It will supply new and existing customers.

Toyota Jamaica's managing director, Tom Connor, dismissed any notions that the new Toyota location is a move away from its present Spanish Town Road facility. In fact, it is the opposite.

"Most certainly not. Moving uptown will free up some badly needed space for further business expansion at Spanish Town Road. Our business is expanding and we need to be closer to a large section of our customers, who are located uptown," Connor said.

Toyota Jamaica Limited has invested more than $400 million in the project. It is estimated that construction will provide jobs to 100 persons and, when completed, the new branch will have a staff complement of 40 persons.

Connor added that the move was not necessarily done to further position Toyota strategically in the Caribbean, but rather is part of a drive to get closer to its clientele. "This move is simply to serve our customers better," Connor said.

Toyota Jamaica, a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, is the sole authorised distributor for Toyota and Hino vehicles in Jamaica, offering a diverse range of cars, SUVs, pickups, minivans, buses and commercial vehicles.

The island's Toyota network also includes an outlet at Ironshore in Montego Bay, St James.