- Bayswater Vehicles CEO Rob Townshend (left) with Hawke’s Bay Foundation’s Amy Bowkett and Bayswater Hastings Dealership Principal Hayden Firth.
Hawke’s Bay’s most established brand in automotive sales is taking a front seat in helping Hawke’s Bay get back on its feet, in the aftermath of February’s cyclone.
Bayswater Vehicles, owned and operated by Rob Townshend, a name long synonymous with car sales in the region, has stepped in to sponsor Hawke’s Bay Foundation with a new cutting-edge branded electric BYD ATTO 3 vehicle.
For Rob, a self-described ‘car fanatic’ and ‘extremely proud Bay boy’, supporting a Community Foundation that has been integral in the region’s clean up and rebuild, fulfills a deep sense of pride and connection to a community that’s supported his family’s business for over 30 years.
“The past few months have brought unprecedented challenges to our community. We recognise the significant role that local businesses like us play in the fabric of society, and believe it’s our social responsibility to make a positive impact on our community during these trying times.
“It’s extremely important to back the community that has supported our business for so long. Day to day we don’t have the ability to be on the ground physically helping with the clean-up and rebuild, but by actively supporting organisations participating in these efforts, our company and our people feel we are playing a small part in our region’s journey towards recovery.”
Bayswaters Vehicles has just sponsored Hawke’s Bay Foundation with a cutting-edge fully electric BYD ATTO 3, affirming the brand’s commitment to environmentally friendly motoring.
“As a trusted and long-established company in Hawke’s Bay, we feel a need to reaffirm our dedication to our community. By aligning ourselves with organisations like Hawke’s Bay Foundation who are out there every day making a significant impact on community well-being, Bayswater are supporting in the best way we can.”
Hawke’s Bay Foundation Executive Officer Amy Bowkett feels very lucky to be taking the wheel of the technically advanced wheels.
“You certainly can’t hear me coming, it’s so quiet! It’s the most comfortable car I’ve ever driven – smooth, reactive, calming. The touchscreen is a work of art and the long range (475 km) with each charge also means I never have to worry about the battery running out.”
In her role out and about stewarding donors and championing her community, Amy Bowkett says the alignment with Bayswater is a natural fit.
“As we found out during the cyclone, local communities look after each other. It is a delight to work closely with Rob, Bayswater have such a positive reputation in the Bay and they’ve always been very community focussed. We are honoured to be a chosen charitable partner by such a well-respected organisation.”
“For me it’s a source of pride, fulfillment, and a connection to the community my family has called home for generations. Supporting the local economy and giving back to the place that has given us so much is incredibly rewarding,” says Rob.
The BYD ATTO 3 is a new generation of smart electric vehicles that are more efficient, safe, stylish, and packed with cutting-edge technology when it comes to safety, entertainment, comfort and accessibility. Currently the fleet of electric vehicles sits at approximately one percent of the region’s population. Rob Townshend predicts by 2050, that will increase to 75 percent.