McKinnon Toyota Earns the Toyota Elite Dealer Award

May 04, 2026 · 4 min read

Serving Clanton and Central Alabama with award-winning excellence

We have some exciting news to share: McKinnon Toyota has been named a Toyota Elite Dealer Award recipient, ranking #41 out of 59 Elite Dealers across the entire Southeast Toyota (SET) region. Out of 178 total dealerships in the region, only the top 59 — just the top 33% — earn this prestigious honor. That means two out of every three dealerships in our region didn't make the cut. We did.

Mckinnon Toyota - Toyota Elite Dealer Award 2026

But what exactly is the Toyota Elite Dealer Award, and why does it matter to you as a customer? Let's break it down.

What Is the Toyota Elite Dealer Award?

The Toyota Elite Dealer Award — also known as the SET Elite Award — is presented annually by Toyota Motor Corporation's Southeast region to recognize only the highest-performing dealerships in the country's most competitive regional market. The Southeast Toyota (SET) distribution region covers hundreds of dealerships across the southeastern United States, making it one of the largest and most active Toyota regions in the nation.

This isn't an award you can apply for, campaign for, or buy. It's earned — through a rigorous, multi-faceted evaluation process that measures every corner of a dealership's operations over an extended period of time.

What Does It Take to Earn This Award?

Earning the Toyota Elite Dealer Award is no small feat. To qualify, a dealership must meet a demanding set of standards all at once — not just in one area, but across sales, service, customer satisfaction, financial health, and facility standards. Specifically:

Exceed annual sales objectives — consistent, high-volume performance, not just a good month
Maintain a Sales Efficiency score of at least 105% for 12 consecutive months — this means performing above Toyota's benchmark every single month for a full year
Demonstrate strong customer loyalty through Toyota's engagement metrics, known as Toyota Loyalty Engagement (TLE)
Achieve profitability while maintaining ethical and transparent business practices
Invest in a well-trained team — from sales consultants to service technicians
Meet Toyota's Image USA II facility standards, ensuring customers experience a modern, comfortable, and professional environment

In short, a dealership has to be — as one regional manager put it — "firing on all cylinders with sales, service, customer satisfaction, and Toyota Loyalty Engagement." There are no shortcuts.

Why This Matters for McKinnon Toyota Customers

When a dealership earns this award, it's a direct reflection of the experience you receive every time you walk through the door. It means:

You can trust the team. The award requires investment in ongoing technician training and staff development. When you bring your vehicle in for service, you're working with people who are held to Toyota's highest professional standards.

You're being heard. Customer satisfaction isn't just a box Toyota checks — it's a core pillar of the Elite Dealer evaluation. McKinnon Toyota's ranking reflects real feedback from real customers in Clanton and Central Alabama who rated their experiences highly enough to help earn this honor.

You're choosing consistency. The Sales Efficiency requirement — 105% for 12 straight months — means this isn't a fluke. McKinnon Toyota has been delivering at an elite level, month after month, with no off-seasons.

Your dealership meets Toyota's highest standards. From the facility you walk into, to the financing options available, to the way your service visit is handled, Elite Dealer status means the entire experience has been measured, evaluated, and validated by Toyota itself.

A Community Milestone

For a dealership rooted in Clanton, Alabama — serving Central Alabama families year after year — this recognition means something beyond trophies and rankings. It reflects the trust this community has placed in McKinnon Toyota, and the commitment the McKinnon team makes every day to honor that trust.

From the sales floor to the service bays, this award belongs to every team member who showed up, worked hard, and put customers first. And it belongs to every customer who chose McKinnon Toyota and took the time to share their experience.

Out of 178 dealerships in the Southeast Toyota region, only 59 can call themselves Elite. McKinnon Toyota is one of them — and that's something worth celebrating.

Come see us in Clanton and experience the difference that award-winning service makes. We're proud to be your Toyota dealer.

McKinnon Toyota CareNet Celebration 2026

Sep 21, 2026

McKinnon Toyota Celebrates 20 Years of CareNet of Chilton County

McKinnon Toyota Celebrates 20 Years of CareNet of Chilton County at the Image Bearers' Gala This month, the McKinnon Toyota team had the privilege of joining the community for the Image Bearers' Gala, celebrating an incredible milestone: 20 years of CareNet of Chilton County. Brandi McKinnon and the McKinnon Toyota team were honored to be part of the celebration, marking two decades of an organization that has meant so much to families throughout our community. For 20 years, CareNet has been a steady source of hope, support, and resources for families right here in Chilton County. Their work has left a lasting impact on countless lives, and their dedication to serving others is something we deeply admire. We're grateful for the chance to celebrate this milestone alongside CareNet and proud to stand behind an organization that works so tirelessly for our neighbors. Thank you, CareNet, for two decades of compassion, dedication, and love poured into our community — here's to many more years of making a difference. At McKinnon Toyota, supporting the organizations that make our community stronger isn't just something we do — it's who we are.

Aug 20, 2026

Giving Back, One Ride at a Time

At McKinnon Toyota, we believe that giving back to the community is just as important as serving our customers. That belief is at the heart of everything we do — and it's why we were honored to team up with Chilton County Transit for a special outing designed just for local seniors. A Partnership Rooted in Community Chilton County Transit plays a vital role in the lives of so many residents, providing reliable transportation to people who might otherwise struggle to get where they need to go. When they reached out about organizing a special outing for local seniors, we didn't hesitate to say yes. Helping provide transportation for the event was a small way for us to support an organization that does big things for our community every single day. It's a privilege to stand behind the people and programs that make Chilton County a better place to live. Why This Matters to Us McKinnon Toyota has always believed that being a good neighbor means more than selling cars — it means showing up for the people around us. Partnering with organizations like Chilton County Transit gives us the chance to do just that. Seeing local seniors enjoy a day out, made possible in part through this collaboration, is a powerful reminder of why community partnerships matter. These moments of connection and joy don't happen by accident — they happen because organizations and businesses choose to work together. A Heartfelt Thank You We want to extend a sincere thank you to Chilton County Transit for everything they do for the residents of Chilton County. Their dedication to serving our community, day in and day out, doesn't go unnoticed. We're proud to call them a partner, and we're grateful for the opportunity to help make this special outing possible. Making a Difference, One Ride at a Time At McKinnon Toyota, we're committed to being an active, engaged part of the Chilton County community — not just as a dealership, but as a neighbor. Whether it's supporting local transportation initiatives, sponsoring community events, or simply lending a hand where it's needed, we're proud to invest in the people who make this community what it is. Together with organizations like Chilton County Transit, we're proving that even small acts of support can create meaningful, lasting impact. Here's to more partnerships, more outings, and more opportunities to give back — one ride at a time. Interested in learning more about McKinnon Toyota community involvement? Stop by and see us, or follow along on Facebook to stay up to date on our latest partnerships and events.

May 26, 2026

McKinnon Toyota Honors Nurses During Nurses Week

Celebrating the Heart of Our Healthcare Community There are people in our community who show up every single day — not for applause, not for recognition, but because someone needs them. This Nurses Week, McKinnon Toyota was honored to acknowledge just a few of those remarkable individuals. Lunch for the Heroes at UAB St. Vincent's Alabama This week, our team had the privilege of providing lunch for the nurses at UAB St. Vincent's Alabama in celebration of Nurses Week. It was a small gesture for people who give so much — but we hope it brought a moment of rest and a reminder that their work truly matters. Nurses carry a weight that most of us will never fully understand. They are the steady hands in moments of crisis, the calm voices in rooms full of fear, and the compassionate presence that patients and families lean on when they need it most. Day after day, shift after shift, they give everything they have — and then they come back and do it again. A Week Worth Celebrating Nurses Week is a chance for all of us to say what we should be saying year-round: thank you. Thank you for your strength when situations are difficult. Thank you for your patience when it's hard to find. Thank you for the compassion you extend to every patient who walks through those doors, regardless of the circumstances. To the nurses at UAB St. Vincent's and to every nurse serving patients and families across Alabama — we see you, we appreciate you, and we are grateful for you. Community Is at the Heart of What We Do At McKinnon Toyota, we're proud to be more than a dealership. We're part of this community, and that means showing up for the people who make it a better place. Healthcare workers like the nurses at UAB St. Vincent's are the backbone of a healthy, thriving community — and it's an honor to support them in any way we can. From all of us at McKinnon Toyota — Happy Nurses Week! 🩺 McKinnon Toyota is proud to serve the Clanton, Alabama community. Visit us at www.mckinnontoyota.com or stop by and see us today.

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