MANY OF US CAN REMEMBER when taking the family car in for a service was a very downmarket chore. Grubby carpets on the reception floor (assuming there were any carpets at all), tacky nudie posters on the walls and mechanics in overalls that looked like they were washed once a week.
All of that is now long in the past. Lexus was one company very much in the forefront of improving every aspect of car ownership, including service and repairs and every time we sit in a well-furnished waiting room sipping a barista coffee (regardless of the car company), we should thank them.
But Lexus isn’t content to sit on its laurels.
Lexus of Chatswood has invested in a new service and repair centre that offers owners a unique luxury space that further elevates the renowned Lexus customer-first experience while expert technicians attend their vehicles.
Inspired by the Intersect by Lexus luxury brand-experience space in Tokyo, the new facility goes well beyond the concept of a traditional service centre by projecting the Lexus brand promise at every touchpoint.
Husband-and-wife team Simon and Nici McCarroll said they drew on their first-hand observation in Japan to embrace the Lexus spirit of “omotenashi” – anticipatory hospitality and service that sets a new standard for customer experience.
They said they also incorporated the Lexus “yet” philosophy to design a centre that – without conflict or compromise, delivered customers’ automotive needs yet invoked the beauty and craftsmanship inherent in the brand’s Japanese heritage.
As a result, they have unveiled a carefully styled interior that creates a tranquil place where visitors can experience Lexus through design, quality materials and first-class craftsmanship.
It portrays the Lexus respect for Japanese tradition and form while incorporating modern luxury spaces where people can rest, work or collaborate with like-minded Lexus owners.
Intricate wooden lattice is reminiscent of the Lexus spindle grille and, along with a traditional Japanese mural and garden, imbues the space with a strong brand identity.
An exceptional culinary and service experience reflects the essence of a luxury lifestyle brand with visitors able to enjoy a casual yet elegant cafe-style atmosphere.
High-quality food and coffee, available from charming service staff or self-service, have been carefully selected to contribute to unique and memorable occasions. Offerings cater for multiple dietary requirements.
Plush seating and convenient working places include a board table with a maximum of 12 seats and private areas where service representatives can explain the details of each service to owners or help them with insurance claims with their own body and paint repair shop also on the premises.
The new centre incorporates 16 bays over two levels – 12 for general service and four for body and paint repairs.
To reflect the current physical-distancing and hygiene rules, revised arrangements have been developed for food and seating, such as a maximum of four people using the board table at a time.
Lexus of Chatswood dealer principal Simon McCarroll said the new centre has been created to provide an exceptional place that anticipates the requirements of customers for work or relaxation while their vehicles are being promptly serviced.
“We thought deeply about Lexus, the philosophy behind the brand and how we could bring that to life by offering customers a space that, very simply, is somewhere they just want to be,” he said.
Lexus Australia Chief Executive Scott Thompson said the new centre perfectly encapsulates the brand’s determination to provide an unparalleled ownership experience, even when customers are not driving their Lexus.
“The Lexus of Chatswood centre reinforces our commitment to anticipating customer needs and offering them a heightened sense of the Lexus ownership experience and the lifestyle it embodies,” he said.