- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

If there91裸聊视频檚 one passion driving Aly Jiwani forward, it91裸聊视频檚 his love for selling cars.

The 43-year-old Vancouverite91裸聊视频檚 career has been on an upward trajectory since his first job as a car salesman at Surrey Honda at the age of 19. Today, as vice-president of regional operations, he oversees OpenRoad91裸聊视频檚 dealerships in Vancouver, Toronto and Seattle, managing a staff of more than 500.

In the midst of a crazy travel schedule that sees him working regularly in all three cities, Aly still finds time to return to his passion.

91裸聊视频淏uying a car is a big deal, and I love seeing the smiles on customers91裸聊视频� faces when they come to pick up their new car,91裸聊视频� he reflects. 91裸聊视频淏uying a car is a massive transaction and when you see the joy people get from their new vehicles, it91裸聊视频檚 a great feeling.91裸聊视频�

Aly grew up in the automotive world and represents the third generation in his family to venture into the industry. His grandfather managed dealerships in Uganda in the 1960s, and when his family moved to Canada in 1972, their work in the industry continued.

Aly91裸聊视频檚 father was a race car driver in the early 1980s and later worked in Honda automotive service, while his uncle was a Toyota dealer in Alberta. When the family gathered around the dinner table, the conversation inevitably turned to cars.

After high school, Aly studied science at Simon Fraser University, switching soon afterwards to business. At 19, in his second year as a student, he needed a job to pay for tuition and college textbooks. He drafted a resume and drove from one Honda dealership to another until he found work. Five stops into his journey he nailed a job at Surrey Honda and started work the next day.

To his91裸聊视频攁nd everyone else91裸聊视频檚91裸聊视频攕urprise, he sold his first car that same day. Within his first week of sales, he91裸聊视频檇 sold four vehicles. The team at the dealership was floored by the young newcomer and his uncanny ability to close a deal. But for Aly, selling cars came naturally.

As a kid, he91裸聊视频檇 always been passionate about cars.

91裸聊视频淥n my way to school, I91裸聊视频檇 stop at car dealerships and hang out. When the auto show was in town, I91裸聊视频檇 attend every day. I loved talking about cars, and at the time, I thought to myself, 91裸聊视频榠f I can talk to people about cars and get paid doing it, then why not?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

In his first month at Surrey Honda, Aly was ranked as the second top salesperson. After the second month he ranked first.

91裸聊视频淚 think customers bought from me because they knew they weren91裸聊视频檛 being taken advantage of,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淏ack then, there was no internet, so people had to go to a dealership, see a brochure and speak to a salesperson to find out information about a car. And I think customers just enjoyed dealing with me.91裸聊视频�

In 2000, as he was graduating with his bachelor91裸聊视频檚 degree, Aly ranked 13th top salesperson in British Columbia. At the Honda awards ceremony, he recalls meeting the top sales folk and wondering what he could learn from them. Then and there, he made the decision to commit to the automotive industry full time and to excel in it.

And excel he did. Between 2001 and 2004 he held the title of Grand Master for Honda Canada, an honour that goes to the top performers.

Aly91裸聊视频檚 career with OpenRoad began in 2004, when he met OpenRoad CEO Christian Chia. The transition to the new job wasn91裸聊视频檛 exactly smooth and Aly well recalls one of his first paycheques at Richmond Toyota: zero income.

91裸聊视频淚 went from being the number one salesperson in Canada to nothing,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 was a colossal failure.91裸聊视频�

Christian wasn91裸聊视频檛 fazed, though, and moved him to assistant sales manager at Honda Burnaby one year later. That move rejuvenated Aly and marked the start of his exponential rise at OpenRoad. By 2008, he was general manager at OpenRoad91裸聊视频檚 North Vancouver Acura dealership. When Aly took over, it was not faring well, but under his leadership it became one of the most successful dealerships in the country.

In 2011, he opened OpenRoad BMW in Langley. Porsche Centre Langley followed in 2014, and then he managed several retail outlets in Langley Auto Mall Collection.

Also in 2014, Aly was named as one of Automotive News91裸聊视频� Top 40 Under 4091裸聊视频攖he first Canadian ever to win the honour. In 2019, he took leadership roles at OpenRoad Northwest in Seattle, and was then promoted to the role of vice-president, regional operations. A year later, he was tasked to lead OpenRoad91裸聊视频檚 expansion in Toronto, where the company acquired two large dealerships.

His boss, Chritsian Chia, remains Aly91裸聊视频檚 idol to this day.

91裸聊视频淐hristian inspires me every day, and I work as hard as I do because I cherish his approval,91裸聊视频� he reflects. 91裸聊视频淗e is the epitome of what I aspire to be. He91裸聊视频檚 just that guy that people want to work for.91裸聊视频�

Though work keeps him insanely busy, Aly91裸聊视频檚 passion hasn91裸聊视频檛 dulled over the years. He thoroughly enjoys his BMW M4, and to this day, loves selling cars, training new salespeople in the industry, and seeing their passion in making a deal.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e helping people make dreams come true, whether it91裸聊视频檚 a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce Phantom,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淧eople love cars; it91裸聊视频檚 such a statement of who you are and what you believe in. Whether you91裸聊视频檝e bought one car or 50, it91裸聊视频檚 still a pretty exciting day when you pick it up91裸聊视频攁nd I love witnessing that moment.91裸聊视频�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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