Toyota Naas wins Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year  

14/08/2024

Operating since 2013, Toyota Naas is an award-winning dealership which prides itself on providing customers with an exceptional service. Irish Trucker spoke with its General Manager Shane Brennan to hear all about Kildare’s only authorised Toyota sales and service dealer – from its origins to the state of business today.  

Business is good these days at Toyota Naas and the plan for GM Shane Brennan and the rest of the team based along the Sallins Road is to try and keep things that way right through to next year.  

Part of the Lindon Group, which was originally established by the Fitzpatrick family 70 years ago, Toyota Naas was set-up in 2012 and currently employs 30 full-time staff.  

The Fitzpatrick family from Monasterevin, Co Kildare has saw the Lidon Group evolving over the decades to the point where it now operates across Leinster with a range of Motor Dealerships, Agricultural Machinery, Forecourt convenience and food and beverage offerings. 

Monasterevin Motors is the sister garage of Toyota Naas, while the group also operates Monread Fare, which are petrol retail sites, Junction 14 Mayfield and M3 Mulhuddart Services. 

Irish Trucker caught up with Shane Brennan to learn more about what has made Toyota Naas a success story for the group over the past decade. 

“We’ve grown a lot here in that our target for new cars that was achieved last year would be up close on 40 per cent from what it was three or four years ago,” outlined the General Manager.  

“We’ve grown in every department. The stark difference would be the amount of new units that we’re actually selling. We’ve done close to 700 units this year which, only a few years ago, would’ve been 400. 

“It should also be mentioned that this year is the 70th anniversary of the Fitzpatrick Group, known now as the Lidon Group.”  

At Toyota Naas, customers are offered maintenance services, genuine parts and personalised attention. The management has always put a strong emphasis on getting to know the customers, as they know that it is a trust-based relationship. 

It stands as Kildare’s sole authorised Toyota sales and service dealership and home to the country’s best-selling car brand for 2022, 2023 and 2024.  

It has the full range of Toyota cars and commercials and its experienced sales staff will work with you to ensure you get the right car to suit your needs and budget, as well as that, its aftercare service is second to none.  

They can provide a full range of the latest Toyota and other premium brand models for purchase, lease and contact-hire at highly competitive rates. 

These days the most popular car that is passing in and out of its gates on the Sallins Road is the bold and sophisticated Yaris Cross, which offers SUV attitude on a compact scale, and it’s closely followed by the CH-R as well as the RAV4.  

All of that considered, the burning question is what has been the secret behind the undoubted success of Toyota Naas over these last 11 years? 

“I suppose, it’s awareness of the dealership,” Shane stated. “Marketing is a big part of what we do here and often businesses see marketing as a big hole; it’s unquantifiable what you get from it.  

“But we spent a lot on marketing, getting the name out there and getting our customers to come in and buy off us rather than buying in Dublin garages or whatever the case may be.”  

In February, Toyota Naas saw its feats recognised on a national scale when it won the 'Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year' at the 2024 Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) Awards.  

With Monasterevin Motors having been nominated for the same award last year, the team along the Sallins Road were delighted to be in the running for the gong and, of course, ecstatic once the award winner was announced on February 22nd.  

Speaking on the success at the time, Shane said that the award belonged to each member of the team at Toyota Naas and every single customer that placed its trust in it.  

Reflecting on it now, Toyota Naas’s GM said that the staff were delighted with the “great recognition” that came with the win at the prestigious SIMI Awards, which celebrate best practice in the Irish Motor Industry, acknowledge the hard work and successful achievements of SIMI Members.  

“It was a fantastic honour for the business,” he told Irish Trucker.  

“To follow up from the nomination last year, it wasn’t disappointing that Monasterevin (Motors) didn’t win, it was just a great achievement to get nominated. To get a second nomination for the group this year was brilliant and then to win it was even better again.  

“It’s great recognition for the staff first and foremost in all departments, but it’s also a great marketing tool and retention tool for staff and acquisition tool for new staff as well.”  

Representing Toyota Naas at the annual SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in the Clayton Hotel Dublin were Liam Fitzpatrick dealer principal; Shane Brennan, general manager; Alisha Callaghan, customer relations executive; Nara Nunes, marketing manager; Craig Tracey, sales executive; Nenad Srepfler, finance controller and Niall Coleman, business manager. 

Looking at the months ahead of the business now, Shane himself is as optimistic as ever about what’s around the corner for this Kildare dealership. 

“We hope to build on the win in aftersales and we also hope to achieve our targets,” he said.  

“They are ambitious targets in both aftersales and sales but we feel we’re on track to do it, and certainly if we hit those targets this year, we’ll definitely be on the right track.” 

Fantastic to hear.  

Toyota Naas 
Sallins Road,  
Naas,  
Co. Kildare,  
W91 XF76 
Tel: 045 897 589 
Web: www.toyotanaas.ie 

First published in Irish Trucker magazine June 2024, Vol 27-3