Bermuda Motors tops 2013 island car sales

Kia Picanto – Bermuda’s best-selling car.

Islandwide sales figures for 2013 show that Bermuda Motors is the Island’s leading car dealership with Kia the Island’s most popular brand of car.

Almost half of the 932 new cars purchased in 2013 were bought from Bermuda Motors, according to Transport Control Department statistics. The company sold 426 private, Government, GP and doctor’s cars during the past 12 months, giving it a 46% market share – 10% more than its nearest rival.

Kia remains the company’s best-selling brand, accounting for 36% (338 cars) of the market in 2013 – 14% ahead of the next best brand – with Kia cars topping the sales numbers in licence classes B, E and F.

The year’s total car sales figures indicate a slight growth in the automotive sector with the number of sales up from 893 in 2012. However, figures are still 54% below 2007’s high of 2,016. The numbers indicate consumers are increasingly choosing smaller cars as vehicles in licence class B and E accounted for 444, or 48%, of vehicles sold.

The class B Kia Picanto was Bermuda’s best-selling car last year with 153 vehicles sold (69% of the class B sector) while the 1.6 litre Kia Rio hatchback topped class E, with 106 sold (48%). The 1.6 litre Kia Soul led class F with 44 vehicles sold (20%), followed by the Toyota Avanza (also sold by Bermuda Motors), with 27.

Michael Butler, General Manager of Bermuda Motors, said: “Naturally we are delighted to again be Bermuda’s favourite car dealership. We think the figures reflect our dedication to providing quality cars that offer good value for money along with superior customer and after-sales service.

“The continued success of Kia cars is a reflection of their consistent quality right across the range and the fact that they back that up with a five year warranty – no one else in Bermuda offers that kind of guarantee.

“In addition we back that up with fixed-price servicing on all Kia cars – again, something no one else offers in Bermuda – which really offers value-for-money in the current economic climate.”

He added: “The figures for the industry overall show that car sales have remained basically the same for the last three years and will probably stay at that level for at least the next two years.”

A Kia for Christmas!

Digicel CEO Wayne Caines, winner’s proxy Kenneth Sousa, winner’s son Dante’ Sousa, Winner’s son, Bermuda Motors’ Derrick Simons.

 

Lucky Ebony Sousa won a brand new Kia Soul from Bermuda Motors as the grand prize winner in a special Christmas promotion with mobile phone company Digicel. 

The ‘Brighten Someone’s Christmas’ campaign was launched on November 8, 2012 offering all new and existing Digicel Prepaid, Postpaid and Internet customers the opportunity to participate and win one of 60 weekly prizes including: one month free Digicel Service, $50 Digicel Prepaid Credit, $50 iTunes Cards, Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphones, Google Chromebooks, spa vouchers and $500 vouchers to spend at any local business.

Over 300 Digicel customers  won more than $20,000 in weekly prizes and these 15 were randomly selected to participate in the grand prize draw to win a new Kia Soul.

During the campaign, the Kia Soul was displayed at various venues throughout the Island, including popular annual festive events such as the Christmas Boat Parade and the Santa Parade.

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MINI to sponsor Lennon Peace concert

John Lennon in George Harrison’s psychedelic Mini Cooper S during the filming of Magical Mystery Tour in 1967

Bermuda Motors announced today that MINI will be one of the sponsors of the forthcoming John Lennon Bermuda Peace Day Concert in the Island’s Botanical Gardens on September 21. The 2^nd Annual concert will celebrate World Peace Day by honouring the music of John Lennon, The Beatles and Bob Marley with performances by local and international artists.

Michael Butler, General Manager of Bermuda Motors, said: “We’re very excited about MINI being part of this great event. Last year’s concert was fantastic and we look forward to enjoying another memorable night of music.

“Like John Lennon, the MINI’s success was born in the 1960s and has become a much-loved global icon that remains as popular more than 50 years later. In fact in 1966, The Beatles manager Brian Epstein gave John and the other Beatles a MINI Cooper S as a gift.

“George Harrison famously decorated his MINI Cooper in psychedelic images. The car featured in the 1967 Beatles movie Magical Mystery Tour and still appears at vintage car shows. In 2009, to celebrate the company’s 50^th anniversary, MINI created a new one-off version of George’s original to be auctioned by the Material World Charitable Foundation — a charity George founded in 1973.”

Concert organiser Tony Brannon commented: “We are delighted to have MINI support the 2^nd Lennon Bermuda Peace Day Concert. MINI has an historical connection with John and The Beatles, and as they sang, ‘Baby You Can Drive My Car’!”

 

Island technicians enjoy 3M workshop

Attendees at this week’s 3M workshop. Leader Leroy Cruceta, 3M
Service Technician, is pictured front centre in black shirt.

Bermuda Motors this week partnered with US-based technology company 3M to put on a free workshop for the Island’s automotive and marine paint and body shop technicians.

The one-day workshop by Leroy Cruceta, Service Technician from 3M’s Caribbean office in the Dominican Republic, demonstrated the latest products and techniques in automotive body shop and marine repair.

More than 30 technicians from Bermuda’s major automotive and marine facilities, as well as technicians from the Ministry of Works and Engineering, attended the workshop. Each attendee will receive a 3M certificate of completion.

Michael Butler, General Manager of Bermuda Motors, said: “At Bermuda Motors we make sure our technicians are trained in the latest auto body repair technologies and are kept up to date with the rapid advances being made in the industry.

“As 3M is one of the world’s leading innovators in the industry, we felt that offering this professional opportunity to others in the local industry would help advance paint and body shop techniques and applications across the Island.”

Prius poster prizewinners

Left to right: Jamie Sayers, Mira Hartwig, John Clark (After Sales Mechanical Manager, Bermuda Motors) and Michelle Frazzoni (mother of prizewinner Eva Frazzoni, who was unavailable for the photo).

Three Saltus Grammar School students have received an end-of-term bonus from Bermuda Motors for their creative poster designs for the new Toyota Prius c hybrid car.

Mira Hartwig received a $100 Gibbons Company gift voucher for her winning design while her Year 9 colleagues Eva Frazzoni and Jamie Sayers both won $50 vouchers as runners-up. The posters are presently on display in the Toyota Prius showroom on Church Street, Hamilton.

The contest was part of a Design & Technology class project focused around hybrid motor technology. Students were asked to design posters advertising the Prius to the Bermuda market, taking into account the environment and the Island’s unique perspective. The winners were chosen by Bermuda Motors’ staff and prizes were presented by John Clark, After Sales Mechanical Manager.

Michael Butler, General Manager of Bermuda Motors, said: “We were very impressed with the standard of the designs produced by the students. They were all very creative and it was hard to pick out three winners.”

Last week Bermuda Motors took the Toyota Prius c to the school and Michael McGrath, A1 Technician at Bermuda Motors, gave a presentation on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy System and the design concept of the Prius c.

Prius c in a ‘class’ of its own

Saltus students show off their Prius posters. Back, from left: John Clarke (Aftersales Manager Mechanical), Mike McGrath (A1 Technician), Fred Thompson (Toyota sales).

Year 9 students at Saltus Grammar School got an expert guide to the latest motor technology this week when Bermuda Motors brought the new environmentally friendly Toyota Prius c hybrid to their Design and Technology class.

Michael McGrath, A1 Technician at Bermuda Motors, gave a presentation on the concept of hybrid systems, which use a combination of electric and regular gas motors and are more energy efficient as well as less harmful to the environment.

Prior to the visit, teacher Phillip Heap, head of the school’s Design and Technology Department had given the class a special graphic design assignment. Students were asked to design posters advertising the Prius to the Bermuda market, taking into account the environment and Bermuda’s unique perspective, and produced a highly creative range of materials.

Bermuda Motors staff will select the best three who will each receive a prize and have their designs displayed in the company’s Church Street, Hamilton showroom.

In his presentation, Mr. McGrath explained how Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy System automatically monitors the engine and electric motor to ensure the most efficient use of fuel and how the Prius uses energy more efficiently through features like regenerative braking. The technology means the Prius has lower harmful emissions and uses less fuel than most regular cars.

Mr. McGrath also explained how Toyota’s drive for energy-efficiency is also reflected in the car’s aerodynamic design; the use of longer-lasting, energy-efficient LED lighting; and lighter materials such as plastic, aluminum and composites rather than heavier steel, iron and glass which require the engine to produce more power and therefore use more fuel.

Any schools interested in looking at or conducting a similar project with the Toyota Prius c should contact Bermuda Motors. Learn more about the Toyota Prius c here.

Fred Thompson of Bermuda Motors explains how Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system works to Saltus staff and students.

Three technicians join paint and body team

Centre, left to right: New employees Leon James, Michael Dill and Michael Yarde Far right is Bodyshop Manager Craig Trott. Far left is Larry Robinson, Assistant Bodyshop Manager.

Bermuda Motors is pleased to announce that it has added three new employees to its body and paint shop.

Paint technician Michael Dill and body shop technicians Leon James and Michael Yarde were made redundant after fire destroyed HWP’s paint shop in August last year but the three Bermudians have now joined the team at Bermuda Motors.

All three technicians are A1-qualified – the industry’s highest professional qualification – and Bermuda Motors’ customers will benefit from their more-than 100 years of experience in the automotive trade.

Michael Butler, General Manager of Bermuda Motors, said: “We’re delighted to add three such experienced technicians to our paint and body department. We always aim to provide fast, top quality repairs and their experience and expertise can only help us improve our customer service.”

Mr. Butler said that with a staff of 13, Bermuda Motors was now the Island’s premier paint and body shop. “We’d like drivers to know that we not only repair the cars we sell – BMW, Fiat, Ford, Kia, Mini and Toyota – but all makes and models on the Island, from Chevrolet to Volkswagen.”

Customers are invited to call 292-0893 for a free estimate.

Bermuda Motors launch day release scheme

Craig Trott, assistant manager, Paint and Body Shop (left), with day release students Jaja DeSilva (right) and Maurice Jones.

Bermuda Motors has partnered with T. N. Tatem Middle School to launch a day release programme aimed at providing students with work experience in the auto industry.
 Under the scheme, three students will spend one day a week throughout the school year working hands-on alongside qualified professionals in the company’s body and paint shop, mechanical shop and cycle repair department.

Darwin Symonds, manager of Bermuda Motors’ Body and Paint Shop, said he hopes the programme will encourage young Bermudians to enter the trade.

Mr. Symonds, a former day release student himself in the 1970s, said: “We’ve seen a steady decline over the years in the number of young Bermudians interested in learning the trade. We’ve got to try and get them interested at an early age so this programme will give them a real taste. If they like it and want to pursue it as a career, then Bermuda Motors can take them all the way through from apprentices to qualified professionals.”

Jeanna Outerbridge, Learning Support, Functional Skills teacher at T. N. Tatem, said the programme will provide a valuable opportunity for students to get hands-on industry experience. “My focus is on life skills, including careers, for students who want to focus on technical subjects,” she said. “Some of our students had expressed an interest in auto mechanics so we contacted Bermuda Motors. They had an interest and we had the need, so it is a good match.”

Javon Darrell (13), Jaja DeSilva (14) and Maurice Jones (13) will start their programme on November 21.  Mr. DeSilva said he was looking forward to the experience. “I like working on bikes and fixing things and I wanted to see what it is like doing it as a job.”

Michael Butler, General Manager of Bermuda Motors, said: “We are effectively trying to resurrect the day-release programmes through which so many Bermudians learnt their trade in the past. They enable individuals to see first-hand what the industry offers and ascertain if it would be something they would be interested in in the future.

“If we can get Bermudians interested young enough, then we can support them all the way through their professional education. If this is successful, we’d like to extend it to other schools and it would be great to see similar opportunities provided in other trades.”

Cool coverage in the Sun!

Bermuda Motors’ latest models got a firm thumbs-up in today’s edition of the Bermuda Sun’s Cool Wheels magazine. Writer Simon Jones test drove our new MPV, the Toyota Verso-S, and the updated Toyota Yaris sedan as well as the new Kia Picanto and the Ford Figo.

Simon described the versatile Verso-S as “an excellent family car with a sporty twist” and a surprising amount of space

He said the popular Yaris sedan had become a classic and remained one of the most comfortable, spacious and economical family-sized cars in Bermuda.

Simon rated the “perky” and feature-packed Picanto as “perfect” for Bermuda’s narrow roads and “a fun drive that is smart and stylish … the 1.2 litre engine packs enough punch to take on the steepest hills and slopes that Bermuda has to offer”.

The “well-rounded and versatile” Figo scored big on price and simplicity. “Ford has a reputation for durability and reliability and the Figo is no different,” wrote Simon.

Magazine showcases our new cars

Bermuda Motors’ exciting new cars – the Toyota Verso-S, the new Kia Picanto and the Ford Figo – were all featured in the latest issue of Island’ Cruisin, produced by The Royal Gazette.

You can read an online edition of the magazine here.