Celebrating Richard Gunning

AFTER more than 50 years working in the Gunnings family business, including 34 years as dealer principal, Richard Gunning has handed over the keys. 

Gunnings Automotive Group is multi-franchise; Peninsula Toyota became the largest part of the business 24 years ago and has never looked back. 

New dealer principal Sam McInnes said Mr Gunning had done a tremendous job building the business to what it was today. 

“He’s earned numerous accolades from each of the franchises over the years,” Mr McInnes said. 

He paid tribute to the business’s staff retention. Collectively, the sales team alone has a combined 78 years of experience. 

“Richard has been running a family-owned business which has been a part of the local community for over 95 years. 

“He’s built a great team and great foundation, which helped solidify our decision to buy the business. 

“During the transition period Richard has made time to catch up in person many times to ensure the changeover goes as smoothly as possible. 

“He is giving me the tools I need to build the business further and further.” 

Mr McInnes said Richard was always looking to further improve the efficiency and quality of servicing and, since May, had increased the number of service technicians, which laid a great foundation for the business to build upon. 

“So, in many respects, right up until handover, he’s actually been investing in the facilities to set us up for success. 

“He’s done that and now my job is to make sure we can keep it fuelled, creating an even better platform for customer experience.” 

Mr McInnes said, although he had plans to further improve the business, on a day-to-day level there wouldn’t be great changes due to the strong foundation Mr Gunning had built over the years.

Peninsula Toyota welcomes new dealer principal

GUNNINGS Automotive Group, including Peninsula Toyota, has changed its dealer principal for the first time in 34 years, welcoming Sam McInnes to the local Toyota family and the rest of the group. 

After working at Toyota in the corporate space for more than 10 years, Mr McInnes brings a wealth of experience with him. 

Mr McInnes, originally from Adelaide, said, through his employment at Toyota, he had worked in Adelaide, Melbourne and Japan but was drawn back to South Australia because of his love for the state. 

“This opportunity has now presented itself and what’s really exciting is I can have a really big challenge, but stay in South Australia, a place that we are so passionate about in general,” Mr McInnes said. 

“Although I had an exciting corporate gig with Toyota in Melbourne, I took an opportunity with them to move back to South Australia which has ultimately led me to this next chapter in my life. 

“It is exciting for my family and I to move to Yorke Peninsula, such a beautiful part of the state. 

“Where your family and friends are, that’s where you want to live; I am looking forward to becoming involved in the local community and making new friends.” 

Mr McInnes said he recognised the importance of developing strong relationships with customers and the wider community. 

“Our point of difference needs to be customer service,” he said. 

“If somebody comes in here, whether they’re driving a brand we support or any other brand, we want to treat them like family and welcome them in like you would a guest to your home. 

“And so, we’ll be focusing on that as a matter of importance, and that will hopefully mean people will shop local and stay local because they’ll appreciate that connection.” 

Mr McInnes acknowledged the terrific work former dealer principal Richard Gunning did while in charge and said he intended to continue to grow and improve the business. 

“Whilst honouring the terrific work Richard’s done to get this place to where it is, we also need to acknowledge the team. 

“The people you deal with on an everyday basis will be the same, like Buzzy (general manager Richard Bussenschutt) for example has been here 30 years, together with sales managers Craig Jones (26 years) and Ray Faulkner (22). We really value that kind of ongoing experience. 

“At the end of the day there will be the same great team members who remain committed to quality and integrity with even more emphasis on community engagement.” 

Embracing change at Peninsula Toyota

PENINSULA Toyota, as part of the Gunnings Automotive Group, will undergo exciting new changes and build on what is already a successful business says new dealer principal Sam McInnes. 

Mr McInnes, who has a wealth of experience at Toyota, said he planned to engage the local community. 

He said Peninsula Toyota would launch a six-week marketing campaign focusing on community engagement and conclude with an Open Day on Friday, December 13 (watch this space for more details). 

He said he had arranged to have ex-Adelaide Crows player Ned McHenry come onboard as an ambassador. 

“We’re privileged to deal with Ned because he’s a ripper bloke first of all, but also he’s naturally passionate about the peninsula,” Mr McInnes said. 

“In fact, when I rang him about it, he was in Marion Bay fishing, so I think the guy is organically passionate about Yorke Peninsula. 

“We’ll instigate more initiatives like that, connecting with the community and welcoming them in.” 

Mr McInnes said he would also draw on the connections he had built within Toyota to benefit the dealership. 

“Fortunately, I have a few contacts at Toyota and together with Buzzy (general manager Richard Bussenschutt) we’ve ensured the newest releases such as the Toyota Tundra and updated LandCruiser Prado will arrive at the dealership during November. 

“I’d like them to be front and centre so anyone going past knows Peninsula Toyota has the newest releases right here, giving the customer the option to touch and feel and even test drive them. 

“I want the community to feel like Peninsula Toyota and Gunnings Automotive Group are unique. 

“The Copper Coast and Yorke Peninsula are amazing, and we encourage you to continue to shop locally — we have all your automotive needs covered right here!”

New models to help drive improvements at Peninsula Toyota

PENINSULA Toyota will be one of the first dealerships in Australia to have access to the new Toyota Tundra and LandCruiser Prado models, which launch this month. 

New dealer principal Sam McInnes said he had leaned on his inhouse connections at Toyota to provide Peninsula Toyota with access to these vehicles, ensuring they will arrive during November. 

“Recently, a few of us from here attended the new Prado launch, and that car is unbelievable to drive and the capability off-road is unbelievable,” Mr McInnes said. 

“That is the sort of thing I would like the community here to experience, because that’s what makes you go ‘oh, I really want this car’, seeing it online doesn’t do it justice.” 

Toyota Australia vice president Sean Hanley affirmed Mr McInnes’s assessment of the Prado. 

“Australian buyers have always appreciated the rugged off-road performance of the LandCruiser Prado, which has proved to be the perfect overlanding platform for customers who want to travel all over the country without breaking the bank,” Mr Hanley said. 

“The new Altitude grade enhances the performance of the LandCruiser Prado, allowing customers to venture further off road than ever before. 

“Meanwhile, introducing V-Active technology brings welcome on-road improvements, with smoother powertrain operation that may also help reduce fuel bills.” 

The new Prado model at Peninsula Toyota will also be joined by the Tundra. 

Mr Hanley said the Tundra, which took six years of development, had 4.5 tonne braked towing capacity and was powered by a 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6. 

“The Tundra has been completely re-engineered by Toyota engineers working in close collaboration with Walkinshaw and uses many parts and components from other Toyota vehicles such as the LandCruiser 300 Series to ensure the very highest quality standards.”