TORONTO and VANCOUVER -

With the dealership outgrowing its former location, Mercedes-Benz Canada announced it has broken ground on a brand-new building for its landmark Vancouver dealership this week.

The new facility will be located downtown and will be situated on 3 acres of land.

“With more than a decade of compounded sales growth, and a finite amount of space, Mercedes-Benz Vancouver has outgrown its landmark location,” the automaker said. “Terminal Avenue is a main artery and burgeoning area located in close proximity to the downtown core.

“To help keep pace with this vibrant city, the new facility will ultimately replace the West Broadway dealership, and will be a worthy successor when it is completed next year,” officials added.

This replacement facility — about five minutes away from the current West Broadway store and consisting of more than 165,000 square feet — will be built around the automaker’s “Autohaus” idea. This concept includes significant glass usage to foster a transparent and open environment.

Moreover, the new Mercedes-Benz Vancouver store will include a slew of upgrades.

For example, it will have greater sales and aftersales capacities and significantly more parking. Complementing the new-car showroom, the dealership will also include an indoor pre-owned showroom that can fit as many as 26 units. There are also 19 service work bays slated for the project.

Mercedes-Benz also plans to be eco-friendly with regards to the design. The dealership is slated to have electric-vehicle charging stations installed and feature a sun-reflective rooftop parking area. Moreover, the company plans to put in a green-screen planting wall around the parking area, and a rain-water-fed harvesting cistern will power the high-efficiency irrigation system in the planting area.

There is also a special solar cavity wall planned. This is designed to use the sun’s heat in the building temperate control.

“Mercedes-Benz Canada and our dealers have invested more than a quarter of a billion dollars in the last few years alone to ensure that every dealership in our network provides a purchase, service and parts experience that is truly commensurate with our brand,” Mercedes-Benz Canada president and chief executive officer Marcus Breitschwerdt stated.

“Over 125 years ago, our company’s founding fathers invented the automobile, and through a strong commitment to innovation, we have remained a benchmark in the automotive industry,” he continued.

“Our investment in the Terminal Avenue dealership opens a new chapter and marks the reinvention of West Broadway, underscoring our passionate commitment to the Vancouver market and providing an outstanding new platform to deliver on our historic promise of always offering the absolute best automotive experience in the premium segment,” Breitschwerdt concluded.