CANADA'S FIRST BMW DEALER, FAMILY-OWNED SINCE 1969

With four brothers to contend with, Otto Koller quickly learned the importance of keeping on your toes. Raised in a small village, west of Lucerne, Switzerland, he gained his appreciation for hard work, spending long hours on the family farm.

At 22, Otto made the decision to move to Canada, learn the English language and break into the automotive industry. With nothing more than a thousand dollars in his pocket, he set off for Canada, landing in Ottawa in 1959. Although he could not speak English, Otto quickly landed a position at a local dealership.

In 1965 Otto travelled to Germany to look into bringing BMW automobiles to Canada's capital city. This was 21 years before BMW Canada launched operations. His first dealership was located at 225 Richmond Road, boasting two cars. Otto was noted for being a hands-on manager, preferring to oversee the quality of his team's work, rather than relishing the opportunity to seal a deal. He quickly became recognized for this thoughtful attention to detail, and genuine care for his customer's experience.

Today, Otto's BMW occupies a state-of-the-art facility on Hunt Club Road, employing some of the most knowledgeable sales and service professionals in the industry. Otto's vision has carried on through the dedication of his wife, Huguette, one of the country's most accomplished automobile professionals, and his daughter, Sonia, dealer principal at both Otto's BMW and Otto's Subaru. Together, the Otto's legacy has lived on since 1969!