Owners of The Car Company Shane Drummond and Ben Brownie have worked hard to build a solid
and trusted reputation in the region. Establishing the business in 1996, The Car Company, has long
been the go-to for locals needing to buy, sell or trade in a vehicle, offering great value for money to
their customers. Dealing with a huge range of makes and models, the ability to provide instant
finance options as well as offer an automotive workshop that provides great service and a high
standard of work, The Car Company truly is a one-stop-shop for all things on wheels!
The Car Company is a household name, and everyone knows someone who has purchased a vehicle
or two from them, if not themselves. The trusted team have earned the right to their success and
longevity, with a long list of recommendations and a long history of repeat business. Shane and Ben
have been main players in the industry for a combined total of over 50 years, and credit the
company's position of strength to building honest and trusted connections both locally and
worldwide. “Building a strong rapport with our clients, no matter where in the world they are is
key,” says Shane. “Our customers can trust us to back ourselves when we say we will deliver on
something. We have clients that will call and purchase a car from us without even seeing it because
they know we will do everything we can to get them exactly what they want.” Bill Liddell, the
director of Russells Curtains and Blinds has known the team for nearly thirty years saying he
purchased his very first car from Shane. “I have never bought a vehicle from anyone else. My family
members have bought through them, as have some of my employees. When we first started our
business we bought our vehicles through The Car Company and they have always given us fantastic
service and are the complete package. They provide 100% support and will go in to bat for you to get
the best price.”
Great camaraderie between the staff of over 20 employees is also key to the business's success says
Ben. “We are locally owned and locally operated, working with local people and making local
decisions. A lot of our staff have been with us for over ten years and that says a lot about our
workplace environment. We have the same rapport with our clients. People can trust us to be
upfront, provide honest feedback and make decisions easily. They know we will see right by them,
every time.” The Car Company’s foresight to adapt, often ahead of the game, has seen them in good
stead over their 27 years. “Adaptability in changing times is definitely one of our strengths,” says
Shane. “We have the biggest volume of vehicles in the Top of the South with over 500, putting us in
a strong position to give our customers the best value and range on the market. Being financially
stable and owning our own stock and land outright is hugely beneficial to us as a company.”
Their many years in business is certainly something to be proud of and worth celebrating, but at the
forefront of the team's mind is also supporting the local community. Stephen Fitzgerald, owner of
Fitzgerald Construction has also enjoyed a long relationship with the company spanning nearly two
decades and says, “They are fantastic supporters of the wider local community and will always go
above and beyond for people, every time.” A huge contributor to the region, The Car Company are
major sponsors of a myriad of local initiatives and development sports including rugby, cricket,
softball and bowls, and they are key advocates of the Women’s and Children’s Refuge and Men’s
Health Trust, along with countless other community groups. Nelson Women’s Refuge manager Diane
Strong says the support her organisation has received over the years has been phenomenal and is a
real credit to the team. “The Car Company have supported Women's Refuge over the past decade
through organising collections and fundraisers, discounted vehicles, and donations from their own
car sales which has equivalated to over $100k! This money has been spent on technology, vehicle
support, nights for women in safe accommodation, and supporting and growing peoples
understanding of our cause through their marketing strategies. We wouldn’t be able to do this
specialised work without the support of organisations like The Car Company who donate to this
necessary work to keep people safe.” Ben was also a recent contestant in the region’s Dancing for a
Cause event which raised well over $400,000 for Nelson Tasman Hospice. Ben, his wife Wendy and
The Car Company team gave the event their all with Wendy saying they are a wonderful cause to
help raise money for.
The Car Company makes arranging purchases easy for customers, with the ability to process
immediate finance approval, leasing, insurance and warranties, and by utilising their fully equipped
Service Centre the skillful team can help install vehicle accessories and assist with repairs,
maintenance and servicing needs. The Car Company’s main site and head office is located at 202
Rutherford Street, with additional sites at 150 Rutherford St, Haven Road and Tahunanui Drive, and
a state of the art, purpose-built automotive workshop on St Vincent Street guarantees the vehicle is
in safe hands. “We can take of it all, whether buying, selling, trading, leasing, servicing, financing or
insuring a vehicle and our onsite business managers are here to help and are committed to tailoring
a package to suit your requirements. Customers selling or trading their vehicles can bring them in to
be appraised, or we can visit them. Because we are local, we can make decisions on the spot and
ensure payments go into a customer's account that same day. If they are located out of town, we
can do the same and even arrange freight. They just need to give us a call.”
“We pride ourselves on stocking quality vehicles. Our cars are priced according to their condition
and mileage, and we trade anything of value. We also offer a new vehicle brokerage service, helping
with the purchase of any make or model, just talk to us about the process. People keep coming back
to us time and again because of our reputation, our contacts and our longevity in the industry. We
love our region, our industry, and our people.”