Brand New Audi Centre Opens in Toowoomba

TOOWOOMBA, AUSTRALIA – June 18, 2013: The new $1.5 million Audi Centre Toowoomba has officially opened. More than 120 guests attended the gala event on Friday 14 June 2013 to officially welcome the Audi brand in Toowoomba.

Don and David Russell, Directors of Wippells Autos, a well-known Toowoomba-based automotive business with a proud 43-year heritage, were joined by Audi Australia’s new Managing Director, Andrew Doyle, and rugby personality, Matthew Burke for the official opening event.

Construction of the impressive single storey Audi rural facility began in June 2012 and was fully completed by June 2013. It is located on the corner of Clifford and Herries Streets and offers an internal display area for eight new cars, with space for an additional 10 pre-owned vehicles on prominent display at the front of the new dealership.

For the past eight months, the dealership has operated from a basic facility across the road. Nevertheless the Audi Centre Toowoomba team still sold 43 new Audi vehicles from the temporary showroom.

Two Audi-specific service hoists have been installed to care for customers’ vehicles, staffed by factory trained technicians using the latest Audi service equipment. A small Audi Café and guest parking for seven vehicles also forms part of the facilities for customers.

David Russell, Dealer Principal of Audi Centre Toowoomba, thanked his team at the opening event and also welcomed valued customer, Mark Osborne, who was the first Audi customer in Toowoomba. Mr Osborne drove his brand new Audi Q5 out of the temporary showroom last year.

“I’d like to thank the Wippell family for their support with this project, my staff and family for their hard work in making Audi a reality in Toowoomba and our customers, without whom we wouldn’t have Audi representation in Toowoomba,” Mr Russell said.

“It’s a very proud moment for me and everything we learn from our association with this German premium brand will support our customers in other areas of our business,” Mr Russell said.

According to Audi Australia’s managing director, Mr Andrew Doyle, the dealership is a very fitting representation for Audi in Toowoomba and is the result of the German luxury brand’s growth in Australia.

“Our company is very proud to be associated with Don and David Russell, Wippells Autos and the Audi Centre Toowoomba team. We welcome the opportunity to support customers with such impressive Audi facilities and aftersales services in this region,” Mr Doyle said.

“We are committed to the growth of the Audi brand, and to supporting the business here in Toowoomba. This project, along with many others which are under construction around the country, represents Audi’s growing strength in Australia. It is part of our strategic development plan to prepare our facilities for the expansion of the Audi model range in the next few years.

“As we head towards 2015, our model range will increase from 32 to 42 new models and our dealerships must be able to showcase these vehicles for customers, whether they are based in the city or large regional centres like Toowoomba,” Mr Doyle said.