“100th” Annual Report is but a part of the journey

1859

William Black Coachbuilders established at 89 Courtenay Place

1881

Rouse & Hurrell took over the business and grew into the Empire Steam & Carriage Works in a new 3 storey building at 89 Courtenay Place.

1902

Grew to become - Empire Steam & Carriage Works Limited, a public company.

1908

Ford Motor Car agency taken up

1911

Name change to: 

1916

Hope Gibbons & family first become shareholders

1918

Hope Gibbons & family become majority shareholders

1919

Company restructured, new constitution, name retained The Colonial Motor Company Limited

1922

Company built the 9 storey assembly plant at 89 Courtenay Place.

1936

Ford Motor Company New Zealand Limited established with a new assembly plant in Seaview, Lower Hutt. CMC evolved to become a group of ‘Ford’ franchised motor vehicle dealerships – the basis of the Company in 2018.

1962

Company listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

1987

Deregulation – import restrictions on ‘built up’ motor vehicles into NZ ceased.

1991

Ford Motor Company sell their worldwide tractor business.

1994

Southpac Trucks Limited commenced.

1995

GPG (Guiness Peat Group) acquired 33.9% of the shares in the company – sold to MBM of Malaysia in 1997 who sold out in 2003.

1998

The last motor vehicle assembly plant in NZ closes.  All import tariffs removed

1999

First Mazda franchise taken up

2003

Centenary of Ford Motor Company

2005

2011

100 years of The Colonial Motor Company Limited name

2018

100th Annual Report for the Company formed in 1919. Descendants of Hope Gibbons continue to be majority shareholders