Breeze Van Centre Portsmouth struck gold at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ annual dealer Performance awards.

The Volkswagen franchisee, based in Poole, Dorset, was the top ranked retailer as the German OEM celebrated the performance of its network of over 60 Van Centres and 30 authorised repairers.

As Breeze claimed the top-ranking in the retailer category Hadwins Van Service, at Grange over-Sands, Cumbria, was named as Top-performing Authorised Repairer and six other retailers gained category awards wins.

Van retailer-cum-Youtube influencer Chris Evans, from Swansway Group’s Volkswagen Van Centre Liverpool received a Gold Pin from the brand, meanwhile, for his “exceptional service to the brand.

Evans – nicknamed ‘California Chris' online – has well over 13,000 subscribers to his camper-themed Youtube channel.

Cian O’Brien, brand director at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “After an exciting year of new car launches, we thank our fantastic network for all their hard work.

“We are proud to have a dedicated network of Van Centres, who remain committed to going above and beyond for our customers each and every day.

“Their support has been fundamental as we introduce a host of new products and move towards a new and exciting future for our brand.”

Breeze beat Eurovans Crawley, Vindis Van Centre Northampton and Vindis Group’s Van Centre Northampton to the overall win.

The category award winners were:

• Sustainability - Marshalls Motor Group
• New Sales - Hawco Van Centre (Inverness)
• Service and Parts - Wolsey Van Centre (Ipswich)
• Used Sales - Listers Van Centre Coventry
• Customer Experience - Listers Van Centre Coventry
• Most Improved - Alan Day Van Centre (New Southgate)

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles launched the new ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo into the market during the period covered by this year’s Performance Awards.

It is also preparing to launch a new version of its Amarok pick-up.

JCT600 grew its Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership to five locations through the acquisition of two sites from Volkswagen Van Centre West Yorkshire in August 2022, while Eastern Western Motor Group joined the network with a new facility in Edinburgh.