Joy is Georgian BMW in Barrie, City Welcomes New BMW and MINI Dealership

Barrie, ON - May 18, 2010 - Georgian International held a groundbreaking ceremony today for Georgian BMW, Barrie's first BMW and MINI dealership, set to open in the spring of 2011. "Our new location will service a growing luxury vehicle market north of Toronto," said Jamie Massie, president, Georgian International. "Barrie has grown into a cosmopolitan community that is eager to embrace the BMW and MINI brands."

Construction will begin on the $10-million project in June, 2010. Custom-designed by Toronto-based architects RH Carter, Georgian BMW's 24,300 square foot, two-story building will feature:
- Both the BMW and MINI brands
- 10 service bays
- 4 drive-through bays
- A state-of-the-art showroom

The building's unique architectural design will be highly visible to a large flow of traffic with frontages facing Bryne Drive, Essa Road and Highway 400.

"Georgian BMW is a retailer with tremendous promise and potential," said Franz Jung, president and CEO, BMW Group Canada. "It's in a high-growth and ever-expanding market. The facility is going to look fantastic, and will be in a perfect location offering excellent visibility and exposure for both the dealership and the brand. We are delighted to have Georgian BMW as a part of our growing retailer network."

Georgian International was founded in 1981, and for nearly three decades has been a dynamic leader in the automotive retail and regional airline industries, as well as a dominant real estate investor in residential and commercial land opportunities. Partners Jamie Massie and Dan DeVos of Grand Rapids, Michigan – along with Georgian's 400 employees – have already contributed greatly to the growth of Barrie and established Georgian International as one of the region's most-influential companies. The introduction of Georgian BMW will create approximately 25 new jobs in Barrie, and further reinforces the company's commitment to the future of Barrie.

Among those in attendance at the ground-breaking ceremony were Jamie Massie, president, Georgian International; Franz Jung, president and CEO BMW Group Canada; Michael Prowse, councillor; and Lisa Bertram, president, Bertram Construction & Design. Ltd.


The BMW Group

BMW Group Canada, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 40 BMW automobile retail centres, 19 BMW motorcycle retailers, and 26 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.


[Group image from left to right includes: Michael Prowse, Barrie councillor; Dan Revell, VP and CFO, Georgian International; Jamie Massie, president, Georgian International; Franz Jung, president and CEO, BMW Group Canada; Lisa Bertram, president, Bertram Construction & Design Ltd.; Ron Carter, president, R.H. Carter Architects Inc.; and Stephen McDonnell, director of sales, BMW Group Canada.]