- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

If there害羞草研究所檚 one passion driving Aly Jiwani forward, it害羞草研究所檚 his love for selling cars.

The 43-year-old Vancouverite害羞草研究所檚 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 OpenRoad害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淏uying a car is a big deal, and I love seeing the smiles on customers害羞草研究所� faces when they come to pick up their new car,害羞草研究所� he reflects. 害羞草研究所淏uying a car is a massive transaction and when you see the joy people get from their new vehicles, it害羞草研究所檚 a great feeling.害羞草研究所�

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.

Aly害羞草研究所檚 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 his害羞草研究所攁nd everyone else害羞草研究所檚害羞草研究所攕urprise, he sold his first car that same day. Within his first week of sales, he害羞草研究所檇 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, he害羞草研究所檇 always been passionate about cars.

害羞草研究所淥n my way to school, I害羞草研究所檇 stop at car dealerships and hang out. When the auto show was in town, I害羞草研究所檇 attend every day. I loved talking about cars, and at the time, I thought to myself, 害羞草研究所榠f I can talk to people about cars and get paid doing it, then why not?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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

害羞草研究所淚 think customers bought from me because they knew they weren害羞草研究所檛 being taken advantage of,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淏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.害羞草研究所�

In 2000, as he was graduating with his bachelor害羞草研究所檚 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.

Aly害羞草研究所檚 career with OpenRoad began in 2004, when he met OpenRoad CEO Christian Chia. The transition to the new job wasn害羞草研究所檛 exactly smooth and Aly well recalls one of his first paycheques at Richmond Toyota: zero income.

害羞草研究所淚 went from being the number one salesperson in Canada to nothing,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚 was a colossal failure.害羞草研究所�

Christian wasn害羞草研究所檛 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 OpenRoad害羞草研究所檚 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 News害羞草研究所� Top 40 Under 40害羞草研究所攖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 OpenRoad害羞草研究所檚 expansion in Toronto, where the company acquired two large dealerships.

His boss, Chritsian Chia, remains Aly害羞草研究所檚 idol to this day.

害羞草研究所淐hristian inspires me every day, and I work as hard as I do because I cherish his approval,害羞草研究所� he reflects. 害羞草研究所淗e is the epitome of what I aspire to be. He害羞草研究所檚 just that guy that people want to work for.害羞草研究所�

Though work keeps him insanely busy, Aly害羞草研究所檚 passion hasn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e helping people make dreams come true, whether it害羞草研究所檚 a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce Phantom,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淧eople love cars; it害羞草研究所檚 such a statement of who you are and what you believe in. Whether you害羞草研究所檝e bought one car or 50, it害羞草研究所檚 still a pretty exciting day when you pick it up害羞草研究所攁nd I love witnessing that moment.害羞草研究所�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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