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OpenRoad Auto Named One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 14th Year in a Row

Mike Ginsca on May 14, 2026

Richmond, B.C., May 14, 2026 — For the 14th year running, OpenRoad Auto (OpenRoad), one of Canada’s largest automotive dealership groups, has been recognized for its industry-leading performance, innovative business practices, and sustained growth with the prestigious 2026 Canada’s Best Managed Companies award. OpenRoad once again retained its Platinum Club status, an exclusive designation for businesses that have achieved Best Managed status for seven years or more.

L-R: Harj Gill, Senior Vice President; Jim VanDusen, Senior Vice President; Sharon Rupal, Senior Vice President; Michael Croxon, President, OpenRoad Auto Ontario; Christian Chia, Chief Executive Officer; Mark Lin, President & Chief Operating Officer; Dimitri Kotsalis, Senior Vice President; and Tahir Ayub, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer


Celebrating over 30 years, the Canada’s Best Managed Companies program awards excellence in private Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million or greater. To attain the designation, companies are evaluated on their leadership in the areas of strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities, and innovation, governance and financial performance.

2025 was a high-impact year for OpenRoad. To commemorate a quarter century in business, OpenRoad launched the Road to 25: Community Event Series, which reflected the company’s commitment to community engagement by inviting small businesses and local organizations to host special events in their showrooms. This past November, OpenRoad added nine NewRoads dealerships to its existing Ontario operations.

“We are proud to once again be named as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies,” said Christian Chia, CEO of OpenRoad Auto. “In addition to celebrating 25 years in 2025, we have also furthered OpenRoad Auto’s reach in Canada, especially in the Ontario region, with the addition of several NewRoads dealerships. We also launched a new vertical within our company with OpenShine – providing Canadians with new and accessible car wash options.”

As part of its philanthropic arm, OpenRoad Foundation launched its 25 in 25 grant campaign, where $625,000 was awarded to 25 non-profit organizations across Metro Vancouver and Greater Toronto, alongside ongoing associate volunteerism and community initiatives throughout the year.

OpenRoad currently owns and operates 44 locations in B.C. and Ontario, including 37 automotive retailers and seven collision repair centres. The OpenRoad family includes more than 2,500 employees and 23 quality automotive brands including Acura, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Audi, BMW, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volkswagen, MINI, Subaru, Mazda, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM. 

“For over 30 years, the Best Managed program recognizes companies who see challenges as checkpoints and obstacles as opportunities,” said Derrick Dempster, Partner, Deloitte Private and Canada’s Best Managed Co-Leader. “This year’s winners, including OpenRoad Auto, have combined strategic expertise and a culture of innovation to not only drive impactful business outcomes, but serve their communities as well. They should be extremely proud of this designation and use it as a catalyst to continue the work they do every day.”

Canada’s Best Managed Companies is one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing innovative and world‑class businesses. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent evaluation process.

Applicants are evaluated by an independent panel of judges with representation from program sponsors and special guests.

The 2026 cohort of Best Managed Companies shares common themes, including fostering a people-centric culture, implementing a strategic company framework, investing in innovation and technological advancement, and maintaining financial resilience and strong corporate governance.

For more information about Canada’s Best Managed Companies, please visit bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

For more information about OpenRoad Auto, please visit openroadauto.com.

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ABOUT CANADA’S BEST MANAGED COMPANIES PROGRAM
Canada’s Best Managed Companies program continues to be the mark of excellence for privately-owned Canadian companies. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada’s Best Managed Companies new winner, one of the new winners selected each year; 2) Canada’s Best Managed Companies winner, award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review; 3) Gold Standard winner, after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years; 4) Platinum Club member, winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more. Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Norton Rose Fulbright, EDC, The Globe and Mail, and TMX Group. For more information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

ABOUT OPENROAD AUTO
Founded in 2000, OpenRoad Auto is B.C.’s largest automotive dealership group, employing over 2,500 associates and representing 23 leading brands across 44 full-service locations, including 37 dealerships in B.C. and Ontario and seven collision centres. Offering sales and service in multiple languages, OpenRoad delivers an experiential, people-first approach to automotive retail—building trust and creating better journeys for every guest.

Guided by its vision to “drive possibilities” for all communities, OpenRoad is dedicated to redefining the automotive experience. The company offers free memberships through its Club OpenRoad loyalty program and, in 2023, launched the OpenRoad Foundation to advance its philanthropic efforts.

OpenRoad is proud to be recognized among Canada’s Best Managed Companies, a CADA Laureate, and a recipient of multiple Canadian Best Employer Awards.

Openroadauto.com
Instagram: @openroadca | Facebook: OpenRoadCA | YouTube: openroadautogroup

Press images available via Dropbox

Media Contact:
Sophia Cheng
OpenRoad Auto
press@openroadauto.com
604-828-3102

Gaurav Manhas Wins the Lawson Lundell LLP Award for the Second Year in a Row

Mike Ginsca on May 7, 2026

Congratulations to our very own legal leader, Gaurav Manhas, who has once again been recognized as an Excellence Awardee at the 2026 Canadian Law Awards! This is his second consecutive year of distinction in the prestigious national program celebrating leadership and innovation in Canada’s legal profession.

Presented under The Lawson Lundell LLP Award for Law Department Leader of the Year, the recognition highlights outstanding in-house legal leaders who demonstrate exceptional strategic vision, business acumen, and impact within their organizations. Gaurav’s repeat recognition highlights the consistency and depth of his contribution to legal leadership in Canada.

As OpenRoad Group’s General Counsel and Director of Corporate Affairs, Gaurav leads the organization’s legal function across a broad portfolio that includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, real estate, financing, intellectual property, and enterprise risk management. His role includes strategic advisory work on business growth initiatives and stakeholder relationships across OpenRoad’s broader group of companies.

Gaurav also serves as Secretary of OpenRoad Foundation and has been instrumental in helping launch the Group’s non-profit arm.

According to the Canadian Law Awards profile last year, Gaurav’s work reflects a multidisciplinary legal background that bridges private practice, in-house counsel leadership, and corporate development experience, bringing a business-focused lens to complex legal decision-making and long-term organizational strategy.

The Canadian Law Awards recognizes the most outstanding legal professionals, law firms, and in-house teams across the country, with Excellence Awardees selected following a national review and judging process that highlights leadership, innovation, and impact within the profession. 

In addition to Canadian Law Awards, Gaurav is also nominated in the In-house category for Canadian Lawyer’s annual Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers list.

We’re incredibly proud of Gaurav! Congratulations on a well-deserved honour.

Mazda3 Wins AJAC's Best Small Car in Canada for 2020

OpenRoad Auto Group on January 17, 2020

Today at the Montreal International Auto Show media preview, Mazda Canada Inc. accepted the award for Best Small Car in Canada for 2020 from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for the all-new Mazda3. This award makes the Mazda3 eligible to win the overall 2020 Canadian Car of the Year award, which will be presented next month at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

Toyota again wins more Canadian Black Book Retained Value Awards and ALG Residual Value Awards than any other auto manufacturer

Benjamin Yong on December 13, 2018

 

ALG_Award_Toyota_2015_NAS_6925_mid.jpg

Toyota again wins more Canadian Black Book Retained Value Awards and ALG Residual Value Awards than any other auto manufacturer

 



Toyota_CBB_Awards_2016_CA6_0124_mid_presented_to.jpg

  • CBB awards presented to Cyril Dimitris, VP of Sales and Marketing, Toyota Canada Inc. by Brad Rome, CBB
  • Nine CBB Retained Value Awards – more than any other auto manufacturer for eighth straight year
  • Six ALG Residual Value Awards – more than any other auto manufacturer for third straight year

 

TORONTO, ONTARIO, February 15, 2017 – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) has received 15 more residual / retained value awards from two prominent organizations.

For the eighth consecutive year, TCI has been recognized with more Canadian Black Book (CBB) Awards than any other auto manufacturer.

The 2017 total of nine awards includes the newly introduced award for Top Overall Brand in the truck & SUV category. Since 2010, Toyota has claimed 49 CBB awards, while the closest competitor has only won 12.
In addition, ALG has announced that, for 2017, Toyota vehicles have won six Residual Value Awards, more than any other auto manufacturer for the third straight year.

“At the heart of the great product we deliver to Canadians is our commitment to adding value to the overall ownership experience,” said Larry Hutchinson, President and CEO of TCI. “These awards are deeply meaningful because they speak to the long-term benefits our customers enjoy across our broad line-up of vehicles, including exceptional quality, great fuel economy and lower cost of ownership.”

The following Toyota vehicles – spanning a variety of vehicle sizes and styles – were CBB and ALG winners this year:

  • Toyota – Top Overall Brand, trucks and SUVs (CBB)
  • Toyota Tundra – full-size pick-up: CBB and ALG (eighth consecutive year for each award)
  • Toyota Tacoma – CBB small pick-up (eighth consecutive year) and ALG mid-size pick-up (seventh consecutive year)
  • Toyota Sequoia – full-size SUV: CBB (eighth consecutive year) and ALG (fifth consecutive year)
  • Toyota FJ Cruiser – mid-size SUV: CBB (seventh consecutive year)
  • Toyota 4Runner – off-road utility: ALG (third consecutive year)
  • Toyota Highlander – mid-size utility, third-row seating: ALG
  • Toyota Camry – mid-size car: CBB (second consecutive year)
  • Toyota Prius v – alternative fuel: ALG (second consecutive year)
  • Toyota Prius c – sub-compact car: CBB
  • Toyota Avalon – full-size car: CBB
  • Toyota Sienna – minivan: CBB (co-winner)

For this year’s CBB awards, 2013 model year cars and trucks were analyzed to determine which vehicles retained the highest percentage of their original MSRP after four years.

For ALG’s residual value awards, recognition was given to vehicles from the 2017 model year that are forecast to retain the highest percentage of MSRP over the next three years.

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles. Toyota has sold over 5 million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability in the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI’s head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver. Toyota operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than six million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota Corolla, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid.

Want to learn more? Visit one of our 4 Toyota locations located in: Richmond, Port Moody, Abbotsford, and Peace Arch, and speak to product advisor today!

Toyota Prius Prime technology wins AJAC Best Green Innovation award

Benjamin Yong on March 13, 2018

Toyota Prius Prime Best Green Innovation award AJAC

The Toyota Prius Prime uses a unique energy-saving heat pump design helping extend cold-weather driving range by 21 per cent.

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Innovation Awards — recognizing the very best examples of new automotive technology available to Canadian drivers — have just been announced, and the winner of Best Green Innovation? A heat pump.

Toyota’s Gas Injection Heat Pump System, to be exact, designed for the automaker’s lineup of electrified vehicles. It reduces the need to rely solely on a gasoline engine or onboard battery to provide heat, the latter significantly cutting down the amount of pure electric range. Traditional heat pumps do not operate in freezing temperatures, however this particular example utilizes what is called a Cyclone Separator integrated valve that bolsters performance and allows operation even in -10 C environments.

“Creating the world’s best-selling family of fuel-efficient, low-emissions hybrid vehicles means developing new, advanced technologies that ensure the ownership and driving experience is the same as that of a conventional automobile,” said Toyota Canada vice president Cyril Dimitris.

Toyota Prius Prime

“The Gas Injection Heat Pump System, a world-first developed for the Prius Prime, helps this plug-in hybrid achieve remarkable range, year-round. We’re honoured that the members of AJAC have recognized our commitment to cleaner motoring with this important award.”

The Prius Prime uses approximately 63 per cent less energy than a traditional heating setup, helping extend the range of the plug-in hybrid by 21 per cent during cold weather driving. First launched in Quebec last year, it is now available to the rest of Canada and has an advertised combined city and highway fuel economy rating of 1.8 Le/100 km.

Sister brand Lexus was also recognized, receiving the Best Safety Innovation award for its Lexus Safety System+, a suite of integrated safety tech such as collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, automatic high-beams, radar cruise control and more.

Toyota Lexus AJAC award winners