A Family Operated Business.
Stewart’s Auto Sales is a family operated business in the true sense of “family operated”. The company, founded in 1938 by Lionel Arthur Stewart, father of Richard Stewart started operating as Stewart’s Auto Supplies and Repairs, evolving to Stewart’s Auto Sales between 1952-57. All the directors are members of the tightly knit Stewart family, working full time and all having specific responsibilities for the day to day running of the company. Richard Stewart is Chairman; Diana, his wife, is Managing Director; Duncan, son, is General Manager of Stewart Motors (BMW Importers) and Director of Stewart’s Auto Sales; Jacqueline Lechler, daughter, is General Manager of Finance and Administration and a director of Stewart’s Auto Sales Limited.
Stewart’s Auto Sales has been the Suzuki dealer in Jamaica since 1982 and has established this marque as a dominant force in the market. They made the Suzuki Swift into a household name and for several years with the Grand Vitara range has been the market leader in SUV sales and the best seller among all vehicles sold in Jamaica.
Stewart’s maintains one of the largest car inventories in Jamaica with new shipments arriving monthly from Japan, storing them in the company’s duty free bonded warehouse, allowing prompt deliveries.
The company’s inventory of spare parts is unchallenged as they maintain WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL motto.
The dealership operates on the most up-to-date programmes and the staff is trained to put the needs of customers first and to maintain a friendly and efficient atmosphere.
The Company, and its affiliates, Stewart’s Auto Paints Limited and Stewart Motors (Importers of BMW) employ over 220 staff. Staff loyalty results in a very low turnover with most resignations due to migration.
Stewart's ...the corporate citizen.
Stewart’s Auto Sales continues to play its role of a model Corporate Citizen since the 1960’s and over the years has been involved in the sports scene with the Reggae Boyz and the West Indies Cricket Team.
More recently Stewart’s has been very involved with the Jamaican Olympic team. After the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Puma bought Usain Bolt a BMW M3. Stewart Motors donated the special duty on this vehicle, along with the Government who waived a part of the duty.
In January 2009, Stewart’s Auto Sales donated, working in conjunction with Suzuki and Interamericana Trading Corporation of Barbados (ITC is the Caribbean Agent for Suzuki and appoints the dealers for the territory) 3 Suzuki Swift Sports to Shelly Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson. The Government waived certain duties to make these gifts possible.
In January 2010 a sleek, black 335 BMW coupe was delivered to Usain Bolt with assistance from BMW and Stewart Motors.
(please click on photos below to enlarge)
We have supported major charities including Missionaries of the Poor and S.A.N.T.A. for children (SEEING A NEED AND TAKING ACTION)
Recognizing the need for first class medical facilities, we joined a number of companies becoming a donor of The Tony Thwaites Wing Expansion at the University Hospital of the West Indies. This expansion benefits facilities for the entire hospital.
Continuing the Corporate Citizen role, we saw the need for a partnership between the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Private Sector and became one of several companies to invest in what is known as the PERF Report on Crime and Violence in Jamaica. A partnership has been created between the Government of Jamaica, USAID, Private and Public companies. This report originated on the initiative of AMCHAM (The American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica).
It was decided that the pioneer model Community Policing Facility, with a newly built and upgraded Health Centre would be erected in Grants Pen on land previously occupied by the Edna Manley Health Centre. AMCHAM Jamaica took on the task of building the 25,000 sq. ft. facility.
The Health Centre has 42,000 active files, with patients visiting from all across the Island. The Community Policing Facility is working well and speaks for itself, as the once violent community of Grants Pen is now a thriving community with citizens who consider themselves a part of this holistic movement.
Stewart’s Auto Sales decided to contribute 0.5% of the total cost of every Suzuki sold, to the Economic Development Foundation of Jamaica, in 2007, in keeping with our Peace Initiative and to assist in the paying off of debts incurred whilst in the process of building AMCHAM PLACE, and purchasing additional property for parking and a Peace Park, now known as the CHASE Peace Park.
Additional donations are still being sought for the on-going Sustainability Plan and tax free donations can be sent to the Economic Development Foundation of Jamaica c/o AMCHAM, Attn: Becky Stockhausen, 61 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5 or Stewart's Auto Sales - Attn: Mrs. Diana Stewart, 6 Orchard Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, W.I.
In 2008 Richard and Diana Stewart were nominated as Business Leaders of the Year by the Jamaica Observer Newspaper.
In 2009 The Richard and Diana Stewart Foundation was created to further the family’s philanthropic efforts.
Our Managing Director, Mrs. Diana Stewart was Chairperson of the Fund Raising and Design Committee. The Facilities were completed in late 2006, and the project is considered a resounding success, and is an ideal prototype for replication in the future. It is an example of what can be done in other countries, Haiti for example.
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Mrs. Stewart is now the President of AMCHAM Jamaica and was instrumental in 2009 in hosting successful FORUM on the H1N1 virus protection for Jamaica as well as a Health Safety Security Environment Conference and Economic Forum all of which were considered very enlightening.
Stewart's also contributes to numerous smaller charities, too numerous to mention and is now playing a vital role in raising funds for Haitian charities.
1ST December, 2011 we met Osamu Suzuki at the Tokyo Motor Show in the Suzuki booth
