Cooke Howlison
Cooke Howlison is a privately held, 130-year-old multi-brand automotive dealership group in Dunedin, New Zealand, retailing new and used vehicles and providing servicing, parts, and finance across Toyota, BMW, MINI, Hyundai, MG, Isuzu, Holden, and GMSV franchises for Otago-region consumers and commercial buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1895
- HeadquartersDunedin, New Zealand
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cooke Howlison does
Cooke Howlison is a privately held, multi-brand automotive dealership group headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand, founded in 1895 and operating continuously for over 130 years. The group holds franchise representation for Toyota, BMW, MINI, Hyundai, MG, Isuzu, Holden, and GMSV (Chevrolet/GMC), and operates a dedicated Scania truck servicing centre, collectively serving consumer and commercial vehicle buyers in the Otago region. The company runs multiple physical showroom and service sites across Dunedin — including dedicated sites on Andersons Bay Road, Teviot Street, and Colston Street — complemented by brand-specific microsites and an online inventory platform showing approximately 175-200+ new, demonstrator, and pre-owned vehicles at any time.
The business model spans four revenue streams: new vehicle sales through OEM franchises at manufacturer suggested retail mark-ups, used vehicle sales across 17+ makes at price points from approximately NZ$5,000 to NZ$245,000+, vehicle servicing and parts via factory-trained technicians using brand-approved fluids and components (including the Holden Complete Care programme covering 3 years/100,000 km), and finance and insurance intermediation through UDC Finance and Toyota Financial Services. Distribution combines physical showroom walk-in traffic with nationwide door-to-door vehicle delivery, online enquiry and finance applications, and service booking via the integrated website. Customers comprise individual consumers seeking personal and family transport, tradies and commercial operators requiring work-capable vehicles, and performance/luxury buyers of premium and American-brand vehicles. Pricing is per-unit on vehicles, usage-based for servicing, and transaction-fee based for finance products; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Operationally, the group employs 101-250 staff across sales, service, parts, and finance functions and is governed as a private New Zealand entity with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no external funding rounds. There is no proprietary technology platform, API surface, or disclosed AI/ML capability, with the technology stack limited to standard website inventory search, online forms, and brand-specific microsites. Recent strategic activity has centred on brand-portfolio expansion (GMSV, MG), geographic extension into Balclutha, and the addition of nationwide delivery, positioning the firm as the dominant multi-brand automotive retail platform in southern New Zealand.
Cooke Howlison firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cooke Howlison
- Legal name
- Cooke Howlison
- Website
- https://cookehowlison.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1895
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cooke Howlison is a privately held, 130-year-old multi-brand automotive dealership group in Dunedin, New Zealand, retailing new and used vehicles and providing servicing, parts, and finance across Toyota, BMW, MINI, Hyundai, MG, Isuzu, Holden, and GMSV franchises for Otago-region consumers and commercial buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Cooke Howlison is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dunedin
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices5 records
Markets served
Cooke Howlison business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- New Vehicle Sales: Sales of new vehicles through franchise dealerships for multiple automotive brands including BMW, MINI, Toyota, Holden, Hyundai, MG, GMSV, and Isuzu. Revenue generated from mark-up on manufacturer suggested retail prices.
- Used Vehicle Sales: Pre-owned vehicle sales across multiple brands with approximately 175 vehicles in stock at any time. Vehicles include various makes such as BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Holden, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, MG, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Suzuki, and Toyota.
- Vehicle Servicing and Repairs: Workshop services for vehicles including Holden Complete Care programme with 3 years free certified service, Scania truck servicing, and general automotive repair. Factory-trained technicians using brand-approved parts and fluids.
- Parts and Accessories: Sale of genuine and approved parts and accessories for Holden and other supported brands. Includes both retail counter sales and parts for workshop use.
- Finance and Insurance: Vehicle financing through UDC Finance and general finance applications, plus insurance products. Offering competitive finance and leasing services including Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, and Operating Lease options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Used Vehicle Sales - Individual vehicle pricing based on make, model, year, mileage, and condition |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Holden Complete Care - 3 Years/100,000km Free Certified Service included with new Holden vehicles |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Vehicle Servicing - Scheduled maintenance based on time or distance intervals |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cooke Howlison product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cooke Howlison operates a multi-brand automotive dealership group in Dunedin, New Zealand, selling new and pre-owned vehicles across franchises for Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, MINI, MG, Isuzu, Holden, and GMSV (Chevrolet/GMC). The company complements vehicle sales with factory-trained servicing, genuine parts and accessories, vehicle finance and leasing, professional vehicle grooming, and auto electrical services.
Product overview
Cooke Howlison is a multi-brand automotive dealership group based in Dunedin, New Zealand, established in 1895. The company operates as a platform offering vehicle sales, finance, servicing, and parts across multiple branded dealerships. Their product portfolio consists of distinct vehicle brands—Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, MINI, MG, Isuzu, Holden, GMSV (Chevrolet/GMC), and Scania trucks—each sold through dedicated dealership sites. Supporting the vehicle sales are complementary services including vehicle finance applications (general and UDC), professional servicing by factory-trained technicians, vehicle grooming, and auto electrical services. The Holden brand also includes an exclusive Complete Care after-sales programme offering warranty, free certified service, and roadside assistance. The company emphasizes over 200 vehicles in stock across new, demonstrator, and pre-owned categories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Vehicle Sales (Multi-Brand) Sale of new passenger and commercial vehicles from franchise brands including Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, MINI, MG, Isuzu, Holden, and GMSV (Chevrolet/GMC) to consumers and commercial buyers in the Otago region.
- Used Vehicle Sales Sale of pre-owned vehicles across multiple makes and models including BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Holden, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, MG, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Suzuki, and Toyota, with prices ranging from approximately $5,000 to $245,000+.
- Vehicle Servicing and Maintenance Scheduled and unscheduled vehicle servicing by factory-trained technicians using brand-approved parts and fluids, covering Toyota, BMW, MINI, Hyundai, Isuzu, Holden, and Scania trucks.
- Vehicle Finance and Leasing Vehicle financing and leasing solutions offered through partner lenders UDC Finance and Toyota Finance, including Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, and Operating Lease options.
- Parts and Accessories Retail and workshop sale of genuine and brand-approved parts and accessories for Holden and other supported vehicle brands.
- Vehicle Grooming Professional vehicle detailing and grooming services to present vehicles in high-quality condition for sale or customer return.
- Auto Electrical Services Auto electrical diagnostic and repair services for vehicles across the supported brand portfolio.
- Holden Complete Care Programme After-sales programme for Holden vehicles including 3-year/100,000km new vehicle warranty, 3 years free certified service up to 100,000km, and 24-hour roadside assistance.
Quantifiable outcome
- 130+ years of continuous operation in Otago region
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cooke Howlison
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cooke Howlison technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cooke Howlison partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ToyotacoreCooke Howlison operates as a franchise dealer for Toyota, offering new Toyota vehicles, service, parts, and Toyota-specific special offers. The partnership includes dedicated Toyota service facilities and online offers linking to toyota.co.nz.
- BMWcoreCooke Howlison BMW dealership at 451 Andersons Bay Rd represents BMW in Dunedin. Offers new and used BMW vehicles with factory warranties, service programmes, and BMW-specific finance options.
- HyundaicoreFranchise dealer for Hyundai vehicles in Dunedin, providing sales, service, and parts for the Hyundai brand with links to Hyundai national offers.
- MINIcoreCooke Howlison MINI Garage represents MINI vehicles in Dunedin with dedicated showroom and service facilities. Operates through mini-specific website and promotional channels.
- IsuzucoreDealership for Isuzu Ute and Isuzu Trucks, providing sales and service for both light commercial and truck ranges. Includes dedicated Isuzu contact points and service facilities.
- HoldencoreCooke Howlison Holden dealership at 484 Andersons Bay Road represents Holden vehicles. Despite Holden Australia ceasing operations, the dealership continues to service Holden vehicles with Holden Complete Care programme, offering parts and certified service.
- MGcoreCooke Howlison MG dealership offers new MG vehicles with dedicated showroom and contact points at 11 Colston St, Dunedin.
- GMSV (GMC/Silverado)coreCooke Howlison GMSV represents American Chevrolet vehicles including Silverado, Corvette, and GMC Yukon in New Zealand. Located at 11 Colston St with dedicated sales team.
- ScaniaminorCooke Howlison provides Scania truck servicing through factory-trained specialist mechanics at their Teviot Street facility. Focuses on maintenance rather than sales.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cooke Howlison competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Armstrong Motor Group: Large NZ multi-franchise automotive dealer group operating across the North and South Islands. Comparable multi-brand dealership platform with similar exposure to mass-market and premium OEMs and integrated servicing.
- Ebbett Group: Multi-brand automotive retail group across New Zealand representing multiple OEM franchises including luxury and commercial brands. Closely comparable to Cooke Howlison in franchise-dealer business model, multi-site retail, and integrated service operations.
- Gazley Motors: Waikato-based multi-franchise automotive dealership group in NZ. Comparable mid-sized multi-brand retailer with similar reliance on OEM franchise relationships and full-service sales/service/parts offering.
- Continental Cars NZ: NZ multi-franchise luxury and premium automotive retailer. Comparable premium franchise mix (BMW, MINI, Audi, etc.) and similar business model to Cooke Howlison's premium dealerships.
- Macaulay Motors: Long-established Otago/Southland multi-franchise automotive dealership group directly competing in the same regional market as Cooke Howlison, with overlapping brand mix and similar business model.
- Ingham (Sime Darby): Major NZ automotive group representing premium and luxury franchises (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, etc.). Comparable premium/luxury franchise portfolio and integrated sales-service model.
- Drummond & Etheridge: South Island NZ multi-franchise automotive dealership group. Comparable multi-brand retail platform serving regional markets with integrated service and parts operations.
Emerging players
- 2 Cheap Cars: NZ used car retailer with multiple locations. Competes with Cooke Howlison's used vehicle segment via lower-cost, higher-volume model and broader national footprint.
- Turners Group: NZ's largest used vehicle retailer and auction platform. Adjacent rather than direct — competes with Cooke Howlison's used vehicle business through scale, online platform, and nationwide footprint, but operates a different model.
Regional players
- Archibald's (Bay of Plenty): NZ regional multi-franchise automotive dealership group operating in a different geography. Comparable multi-brand franchise dealership model but does not directly compete in the Otago market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cooke Howlison financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cooke Howlison leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cooke Howlison funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cooke Howlison M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cooke Howlison
What does Cooke Howlison do?
Cooke Howlison operates a multi-brand automotive dealership group in Dunedin, New Zealand, selling new and pre-owned vehicles across franchises for Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, MINI, MG, Isuzu, Holden, and GMSV (Chevrolet/GMC). The company complements vehicle sales with factory-trained servicing, genuine parts and accessories, vehicle finance and leasing, professional vehicle grooming, and auto electrical services.
Is Cooke Howlison a public or private company?
Cooke Howlison is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cooke Howlison founded?
Cooke Howlison was founded in 1895. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cooke Howlison based?
Cooke Howlison is headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Cooke Howlison make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. New Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are used Vehicle Sales, vehicle Servicing and Repairs, parts and Accessories and finance and Insurance.
Who are Cooke Howlison's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Armstrong Motor Group, Ebbett Group, Gazley Motors, Continental Cars NZ, Macaulay Motors, Ingham (Sime Darby) and Drummond & Etheridge. Emerging players are 2 Cheap Cars and Turners Group. Archibald's (Bay of Plenty) is listed as a regional player.
Does Cooke Howlison have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cooke Howlison.