About Us

The Townshend family has been a trusted and respected name in the Hawke’s Bay Motor Industry for over 60 years. Charlie Townshend, Rob’s father, dedicated many years to working in and operating businesses within the industry until his sudden passing in 1987. In 1985, at the age of 19, Rob Townshend followed in his father’s footsteps and embarked on his own journey into Motor Vehicle Sales by joining the team at Townshend Motors. Over the next five years, Rob’s natural talent as a salesman shone through, and he acquired valuable knowledge of the motor industry. In June 1990, three years after the passing of his father, Rob, at only 25 years old, established Bayswater Vehicles, a small Dealership on Carlyle Street in Napier. Despite facing scepticism due to his young age and lack of management experience at that level, Rob proved the cynics wrong. Over 30 years later, Bayswater Vehicles has grown from strength to strength. Alongside the growth of our Franchised Brands, Vehicle Parts and Servicing Departments, and the unwavering support of our valued customers (Bayswater Family), the original site has expanded and developed significantly.

Additionally, the Bayswater Vehicle Group now includes seven more Dealerships, three of which are adjacent to the original Carlyle Street location, with branches in Stortford Lodge, Heretaunga Street and Karamu Road North in Hastings, as well as Manawatu BMW in Palmerston North. Our business has expanded to encompass not only the original vehicle brands Bayswater carried, Hyundai and Subaru, but now include Isuzu, Suzuki, Nissan, BYD, MG, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Audi, Volkswagen and Skoda.

Rob, along with co-Director Mel Chan, take great pride in the continued growth and success of the Bayswater Vehicle Group. They have assembled a team of highly talented and dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to ensure the ongoing success of the organisation. They also acknowledge Robs mother and former shareholder Dot Townshend, who contributed significantly to Bayswater’s success until her passing in July 2021.

For the Bayswater Vehicle Group, the future is bright and truly exciting, with many adventures awaiting the group, we encourage you to keep an eye on our progress as Bayswater enters this exciting new phase. Here’s to the next 30 Years of incredible business, supporting local and providing exceptional customer experiences!