Mercedes-Benz dealership aims to establish new-car central in Botany, Auckland
<div id="94244618" class="landscapephoto"><img class="photoborder" title="" src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/k/3/z/m/2/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1k3zuy.png/1498768587269.jpg" alt="Botany showroom represents investment of $20m. It's the third Mercedes dealership for Armstrong Group." /> <div class="photocredit"><span class="photocredittext">DAVID LINKLATER/FAIRFAX NZ</span></div> <div class="photocaption"> <p>Botany showroom(279 Ti Rakau Drive, Auckland) represents investment of $20m. It's the third Mercedes dealership for Armstrong Group.</p> </div> <div class="hdivider"> </div> </div> <p>The red ribbon was cut at New Zealand's largest Mercedes-Benz dealership on Thursday.</p> <p>Mercedes-Benz Botany, owned by Armstrong Group, has been in development for three years. It's built on a 1.1-hectare site in Ti Rakau Drive, in an East-Auckland area that has been identified as a growth corridor for automotive retail by Mercedes-Benz Australasia.</p> <p>It's the third Mercedes dealership for Rick Armstrong - the other two are in Christchurch and Dunedin - and a key element in a portfolio of Armstrong Group automotive businesses that represent 19 different brands in 13 locations across NZ.</p> <div id="94244619" class="landscapephoto"><img class="photoborder" title="" src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/k/3/z/m/3/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1k3zuy.png/1498768587269.jpg" alt="Armstrong Group owner Rick Armstrong, speaking on launch night at Mercedes-Benz Botany." /> <div class="photocredit"><span class="photocredittext">DAVID LINKLATER/FAIRFAX NZ</span></div> <div class="photocaption"> <p>Armstrong Group owner Rick Armstrong, speaking on launch night at Mercedes-Benz Botany.</p> </div> <div class="hdivider"> </div> </div> <p>A second showroom alongside will be home to an Armstrong Hyundai dealership.</p> <div> </div> <div id="94244617" class="landscapephoto"><img class="photoborder" title="" src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/k/3/z/m/1/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1k3zuy.png/1498768587269.jpg" alt="One of two showrooms on 4800 square metres of floorspace. The other will be for Hyundai." /> <div class="photocredit"><span class="photocredittext">DAVID LINKLATER/FAIRFAX NZ</span></div> <div class="photocaption"> <p>One of two showrooms on 4800 square metres of floorspace. The other will be for Hyundai.</p> </div> <div class="hdivider"> </div> </div> <p>Across the two facilities there is display space for 24 cars, 21 service bays and seven grooming areas.</p> <p>According to Armstrong the development started with a very short phone call.</p> <p>"Horst von Sanden, chief executive of Mercedes-Benz Australasia, called me when I was driving around Auckland one day around three years ago.</p> <p>"It was a very quick conversation: he asked if I'd be interested in opening a new dealership in Auckland. The call lasted about two minutes and I'd agreed to do it.</p> <p>"They did a study in this area and established what they thought was the perfect place for a dealership. We're standing about 200 metres away from the spot where they put the pin on the map."</p> <p>The dealership has actually been open for business since the start of June. In less than four weeks, it has sold nearly 60 cars.</p> <p>"While a number of dealerships have been represented in the Botany and East Tamaki area over the years, it is still lacking a central automotive hub that areas such as Newmarket and Greenlane have developed.</p> <p>"We are confident that the Ti Rakau area will now become that central point. "</p> <hr /> <p>Info about this central</p> <p>Mercedes-Benz Botany<br />279 Ti Rakau Drive<br />Botany Downs<br />Auckland 2013<br />Tel: (09) 535 8889<br />www.mbbotany.co.nz</p>
