- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

If there乌鸦传媒檚 one passion driving Aly Jiwani forward, it乌鸦传媒檚 his love for selling cars.

The 43-year-old Vancouverite乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淏uying a car is a big deal, and I love seeing the smiles on customers乌鸦传媒� faces when they come to pick up their new car,乌鸦传媒� he reflects. 乌鸦传媒淏uying a car is a massive transaction and when you see the joy people get from their new vehicles, it乌鸦传媒檚 a great feeling.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒攁nd everyone else乌鸦传媒檚乌鸦传媒攕urprise, he sold his first car that same day. Within his first week of sales, he乌鸦传媒檇 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乌鸦传媒檇 always been passionate about cars.

乌鸦传媒淥n my way to school, I乌鸦传媒檇 stop at car dealerships and hang out. When the auto show was in town, I乌鸦传媒檇 attend every day. I loved talking about cars, and at the time, I thought to myself, 乌鸦传媒榠f I can talk to people about cars and get paid doing it, then why not?乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淚 think customers bought from me because they knew they weren乌鸦传媒檛 being taken advantage of,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淏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.乌鸦传媒�

In 2000, as he was graduating with his bachelor乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 career with OpenRoad began in 2004, when he met OpenRoad CEO Christian Chia. The transition to the new job wasn乌鸦传媒檛 exactly smooth and Aly well recalls one of his first paycheques at Richmond Toyota: zero income.

乌鸦传媒淚 went from being the number one salesperson in Canada to nothing,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚 was a colossal failure.乌鸦传媒�

Christian wasn乌鸦传媒檛 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乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒� Top 40 Under 40乌鸦传媒攖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乌鸦传媒檚 expansion in Toronto, where the company acquired two large dealerships.

His boss, Chritsian Chia, remains Aly乌鸦传媒檚 idol to this day.

乌鸦传媒淐hristian inspires me every day, and I work as hard as I do because I cherish his approval,乌鸦传媒� he reflects. 乌鸦传媒淗e is the epitome of what I aspire to be. He乌鸦传媒檚 just that guy that people want to work for.乌鸦传媒�

Though work keeps him insanely busy, Aly乌鸦传媒檚 passion hasn乌鸦传媒檛 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.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e helping people make dreams come true, whether it乌鸦传媒檚 a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce Phantom,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淧eople love cars; it乌鸦传媒檚 such a statement of who you are and what you believe in. Whether you乌鸦传媒檝e bought one car or 50, it乌鸦传媒檚 still a pretty exciting day when you pick it up乌鸦传媒攁nd I love witnessing that moment.乌鸦传媒�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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