Today, 25 years later, Koch Gruppe Automobile AG has a total of six brands in its new car portfolio, spread across a total of 16 locations. In 2017, the company sold over 8,000 new and used cars, with a turnover of 170 million euros. Around 400 employees and 70 trainees work for the Berlin-based multi-brand dealer.
In 2003 - just ten years after the company was founded - the winner was honored for the first time with a cross-brand and Germany-wide award for its successful commitment to the automotive trade. In 2003, the company secured first place in the "Sales Award" presented for the first time by "kfz-betrieb". With 1,500 new cars sold, Autohaus Koch was Germany's largest Mazda dealer at the time. In 2016, his company won the "Internet Sales Award" from "kfz-betrieb", which was also presented throughout Germany and across all brands.
With a combination of committed employees, sophisticated processes, close ties to the region and a good dose of creativity, Thomas Koch has managed to hold its own in an extremely competitive capital city market.
"kfz-betrieb" editor-in-chief Wolfgang Michel presented the award on September 27, 2018 at the "Executive Circle 2018" evening event at Steinburg Castle in Würzburg with the words: "With the 'Executive Circle Award 2018', the editorial team honors the outstanding life's work of a major automobile dealer in Germany. Anyone who has successfully held their own for 25 years as an independent entrepreneur in the automotive shark tank of Berlin, which is characterized by factory-owned branches and retail operations, has more than earned the 'Executive Circle Award' for lifetime achievement. I am delighted that this year's award goes to a 'Berlin original'. Congratulations, Thomas Koch!"
Award winner Thomas Koch commented on the award as follows: "A lifetime achievement award is an involuntary reminder that you are no longer the very youngest. But it's a really good feeling to be honored for 25 successful years. I'm delighted to receive the award, which has come at the right time. After all, we are celebrating our anniversary on November 16. I will be toasting the Executive Circle Award 2018 with all my employees and our guests. After all, they have all played their part in helping our dealership group in Berlin to develop so well."
"kfz-betrieb" presented the award at the "Executive Circle", a forum for Germany's major car dealers. The "Executive Circle" took place for the fourth time at Steinburg Castle in Würzburg. The specialist medium invites only the top management level of Germany's major car dealers to this event format. The aim of this event is to establish a cross-brand exchange and network highly qualified expertise. The "Executive Circle 2018" was supported by Porsche Germany, including a vehicle exhibition on the topic of Porsche E-Performance.
"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for over 100 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German automotive trade (ZDK), the professional interest group for around 38,000 car dealerships and workshops. News from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Communications Group is one of the leading service providers for B2B communication in the German-speaking world. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. With four agencies in Berlin, the Group offers comprehensive communications expertise. The Group's services range from specialist media, corporate publishing, social media services, PR, trade fair services, networks and communities to market intelligence & insights and an in-house congress center.
