Christopher Tonkin founded Straightline Motor Group in the fall of 2016 with the vision of "Shifting The Experience."
Alongside Clark Hamilton, a trusted colleague and the current CFO of Straightline, they aimed to revolutionize the car buying process and make it an enjoyable, transparent, and honest experience.
With an educational background from the Automotive Business School of Canada and Griffith University in Australia, as well as training from NADA's Dealer Candidate Academy, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. After gaining extensive experience at a family-owned dealership, a thriving Honda dealership, and at Auto Canada, the inception of Straightline Motor Group marked the beginning of an ambitious quest of building a successful group of reputable brands.
Since its establishment, Straightline has expanded to include seven operations, including Straightline GM, Straightline Honda, Straightline KIA, Straightline KIA Medicine Hat, Straightline RV, Straightline Volkswagen, and NAPA Auto Pro. These operations are spread across Alberta and British Columbia, with Chris holding the positions of President and Dealer Principal.
Straightline has quickly become an industry leader and top performer within all of the brand it represents. Straightline also takes mass amounts of pride in their company culture, team first mentality and countless success stories within the group. While succeeding with multiple operations, Straightline Motor Group has made part of it's mission to consistently give back to the towns and communities in which it operates. Giving back to over 100 different charities and foundations is a big pride point of SMG.
With a clear goal of reaching 10 operations within 10 years, Straightline is well on its way to achieving this milestone. The group attributes its success to a dedicated team of leaders, strategic partnerships with progressive and successful brands, the cultivation of an exceptional organizational culture, and the steadfast commitment to the "Shifting The Experience" ethos in all facets of its operations.
