ISUZU DEALER OF THE YEAR Southern Motors keeps strong performance

By Neil Bravo
Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. kept its strong performance among Isuzu dealers in the country despite what it called a “harsh year” marked by calamities.
Isuzu’s exclusive dealer for Southeastern Mindanao, SMDI bagged third place in both the 2012 Dealer of the Year and Best in Sales awards in the recent annual recognition ceremonies for all Isuzu dealers nationwide.
The twin recognition came amidst a challenging year for the car market in the region worsened by the effects of typhoon ‘Pablo’ and massive flooding.
It is the second year in a row that SMDI figured prominently in the race for the year’s top Isuzu dealer. Last year, SMDI achieved a major milestone by emerging as the Isuzu Dealer of the Year for 2011.
Last year’s accomplishment was the first time ever that Southern Motors of Davao took the top honors for all Isuzu dealers in the country.
The consistent performance of SMDI is credited to the stewardship of the father-son management team of SMDI president Frank T Liu, Jr. and assistant vice president Kim Liu.
Liu, Jr. assumed the top spot at SMDI just three years ago, and already the company has risen to the many challenges that have faced region and the industry as a whole.
SMDI has consistently fared among the top three in the past three years. In 2011, despite the challenges posed by disastrous natural phenomena overseas, Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. achieved Best in Sales as well as Best in Service Performance, and was duly recognized by Isuzu Philippines Corporation.
The consistent results in the annual Dealer of the Year recognition only strengthens the company’s commitment to excellence in serving their customers in the south.
“It was a very challenging year and despite that we were still able to sustain our good performance. Landing in the top three is already something we can be proud of. Thanks to the persistence and drive for excellence of our entire SMDI team,” said Liu, Jr.
Isuzu Philippines, Inc. President Ryoji Yamazaki and executive vice president Takashi Tomita presented the awards to Frank Liu Jr. and Kim Liu. Also present were IPC Senior VP for Sales Arthur Balmadrid and assistant division manager for Sales Daisuke Inaba.
The Isuzu Dealer of the Year award is given to the full-service Isuzu dealership that fulfills very strict criteria on top of achieving actual sales quotas in terms of both vehicles and service.
“We will keep our strong commitment to excel. We are extremely challenged by the market forces as well as external factors and that only makes us more driven to perform better each year,” added the youthful SMDI AVP Kim Liu.
“We commend our loyal workforce here at SMDI for their determination to overcome the challenges,” Liu said.
SMDI has been in the auto industry for over 60 years. Originally established as Southern Motors, Inc. in 1949 under the Yutivo and Sons Group of Companies, SMDI, then SMI, sold vehicles made by General Motors such as Chevrolet, Pontiac, Opel, Holden, Vauxhall and Isuzu.
In the 1980’s, SMDI then transitioned to become a part of the Isuzu dealer network with the founding of Isuzu Motors Pilipinas, Inc., the precursor of today’s Isuzu Philippines Corporation.
Since then, SMDI has been the exclusive representative of the reliable Isuzu brand in the whole of Southeastern Mindanao.
To date, Southern Motors of Davao, Inc. carries the reliable Isuzu Crosswind AUV, the tough Isuzu D-MAX pick-up, the comfortable Isuzu Alterra SUV. For light trucks, SMDI also sells the country’s favorite light and medium commercial trucks such as the N Series and the larger F Series, as well as the new Isuzu IVan.
“2013 promises to be a good year for us, and we at Isuzu Davao are more than happy to deliver the best, most reliable diesel-powered vehicles in the market such as the Crosswind, D-MAX and Alterra, as well as happily supply all of your servicing needs for the years to come,” said Liu, Jr.
“To our loyal customers, thank you. We share these awards with you,” Liu said.