Trinity Auto a driving force in $4m upgrade
MULTI MILLION-DOLLAR upgrades are underway at the Trinity Auto Group as it prepares to meet the challenges of a competitive automotive marketplace in Cairns.
Dealer-principal Richard Jaska said up to $4 million was being spent over the next 12 months at its two sites in the city and Earlville.
Mr Jaska said a new Ford showroom and associated facilities was planned for next year on the Florence St/McLeod St corner while work on a new Subaru showroom and a new workshop had started at Earlville. Keir Construction is the main contractor.
“The Ford showroom will receive a new upgrade to feature Ford’s (latest) corporate identity by the end of next year,” Mr Jaska said.
He said there was about 800sqm of space to work with, incorporating the former parts department which had shifted to Earlville.
“We may split into two with another brand. We are looking at seven or eight options,” Mr Jaska said.
“We are not sure because of the large space but it will be state-of-the-art.”
He said construction would start after the wet season and the Ford team would relocate to a former Kawasaki building in McLeod St.
The 600sq m Subaru showroom at Earlville had been gutted and would become “selfsufficient” with a new interior and exterior and signs to make it more visible from the Bruce Highway, Mr Jaska said.
The service department also had been ripped out and would feature four extra workshop bays to total 12, including wheel alignment and two quick service bays.
A temporary service department had been set up in the former Channel 10 studios between the Hyundai and Subaru showrooms, Mr Jaska said. The jobs should be finished by Christmas.
Mr Jaska said the exterior of the Isuzu Ute showroom would be completed.
He said Trinity were adding two new brands at Earlville: MG and Mahindra which would be incorporated in the used car yard with a separate sales office.
Mr Jaska said MG was selling well elsewhere in Australia and there was some existing heritage attached to the badge now owned by the Chinese.
He said Mahindra had a good following on the Tablelands where it was previously sold at Atherton and there was strong interest in the 4X4 and utility versions.
Mr Jaska said the company would now sell and service 14
I LIKEN IT TO THE ANALOGY THAT SIZE MATTERS AND IT WILL ENABLE US TO KEEP GROWING RICHARD JASKA, TRINITY AUTO GROUP DEALER-PRINCIPAL
brands, the most of any dealership in Cairns.
“I liken it to the analogy that size matters and it will enable us to keep growing,” he said. Mr Jaska said the market was “tough” and the expenditure would enable the business to maintain its 145 staff.
“(Owner) Tony White has spent $10 million to $15 million over the past decade ... this will be done with existing staff and help maintain staff levels and give us the opportunity to grow,” he said.