Click here for the Toyota media homepage
www.toyotagb-press.co.uk

7 May 2010

 TOYOTA APPLAUDS WKB TOYOTA WATERLOOVILLE WITH EUROPEAN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD

WKB Toyota at Waterlooville was one of three UK Toyota Centres awarded with the top honour at Toyota’s “Ichiban” European Customer Satisfaction Awards during a ceremony held last night at the company’s experience showroom located on the Champs Elysées in Paris.

WKB Toyota was recognised for their exceptional performance in customer satisfaction in both Sales and After Sales areas. The award was presented to the Centre Principal, David Kilby by Tadashi Arashima, Chief Executive Officer and President of TME.

Approximately 2,600 European retailers were evaluated on their results during a continuous performance monitoring, which is included in the company’s standards. Based on a very demanding set of selection criteria, 41 retailers achieved this distinct recognition by Toyota in Europe.

Speaking at the awards ceremony Mr Arashima said: ‘Customer First remains a landmark of Toyota philosophy. Each and every member of our team across Europe ensures to always deliver their best, with our Retailers especially committed to providing the best overall customer experience. Today’s winners are the best-of-the-best, as customer satisfaction is part of their everyday commitment to excellence.’

‘Ichiban’ is a Japanese word borrowed from ‘Okyakusama Ichiban’ which means ‘Customer First’, with ‘Ichiban’ meaning ‘first’ or ‘number one’. Since the start of TME’s annual Ichiban Awards in 2006, Customer Satisfaction performance of the Toyota retailers has improved by some 19 per cent in Sales and 13 per cent in After Sales.

ENDS

This and further Toyota information and pictures can be downloaded from the Toyota media website on: http://www.toyotagb-press.co.uk or through www.newspress.co.uk

For further information contact one of the following:  

David Crouch on 01737 367307 or by e-mail at david.crouch@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Michael Valvo on 01737 367264 or by e-mail at michael.valvo@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Richard Seymour on 01737 367272 or by e-mail at richard.seymour@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Erica Haddon on 01737 367308 or by e-mail at erica.haddon@tgb.toyota.co.uk
Scott Brownlee on 01737 367266 or by e-mail at scott.brownlee@tgb.toyota.co.uk

Ref: 100507N

Notes to the editors:

Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly and indirectly employs around 80,000 people in Europe and has invested over €7 billion since 1990. Toyota’s operations in Europe are supported by a network of 30 National Marketing and Sales Companies across 56 countries, a total of around 3,000 sales outlets, and nine manufacturing plants. In 2009, Toyota sold 882.000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe. For more information, visit www.toyota.eu.

60551/070510

View / Open	Download / Add to cart

From left to right: Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President Toyota Motor Europe, Miguel Fonseca, Managing Director Toyota (GB) PLC, David Kilby, Managing Director WKB Toyota, Gary Harmer, Atfersales Director WKB Toyota, Naoya Taniguchi, Chairman Toyota (GB) PLC, Tadashi Arashima, Chief Executive Officer and President of Toyota Motor Europe.