Kenworth Toronto celebrates 25th (July 01, 2005)

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MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Kenworth Toronto celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The family business started out under Luigi Tarola, who emigrated to Toronto from his native Italy over 50 years ago. A mechanic by trade, Tarola first started a small gas station that also made auto repairs. He later bought a car dealership, and then turned his attention to trucks in 1980.

“Dad was always on the lookout for new opportunities and he found a great one with Kenworth,” said Vince Tarola, Luigi’s son and the current president of Kenworth Toronto. “It’s been a good relationship – Kenworth has great products and great people to work with.”

In the 25 years the Tarola family has owned the Kenworth Toronto dealership, the business has grown into a successful network of eight full-service Ontario locations employing300. Kenworth Toronto is well known in the province with locations in Barrie, Bowmanville, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Mississauga, Sudbury and Concord – its newest location, which opened in late 2004.

“We have a long list of customers who have bought trucks, parts and service from Kenworth Toronto over the entire 25 years we’ve been operating,” Vince said.

As the market has grown, Kenworth Toronto has taken advantage of it by opening new branches and building the Kenworth brand, Tarola said.

“Our truck sales have increased significantly,” he said. “We are selling many more vocational trucks; today it is half of our business and we credit the Kenworth T800 for making that possible. Our medium duty business with the Kenworth T300 also has surged from nothing five years ago to nine per cent market share today.

“In the past 10 years, our parts business has grown more than seven-fold, and we’ve seen a similar increase in our service business,” said Tarola, who began his career in the family business 20 years ago as a sales coordinator. “Our customers demand more and with Kenworth products and support we are able to deliver.”

Kenworth Toronto is part of the Kenworth dealer network of nearly 300 locations throughout Canada and the U.S. All eight Kenworth Toronto locations are open seven days a week, staffed with two shifts weekdays and an extended single shift on Saturday and Sunday.

What’s in store for the next 25 years? “We’ve never been timid about finding new locations and seeking out markets that are underserved,” Tarola. “We have the World’s Best products with Kenworth and great employees who know what customers expect.” For more information on Kenworth visit www.kenworth.com

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  • Do you have any k370 in stock, if so, how much? Could you please call me, I’m from Ottawa and would be interested in buying one. Thank you!!