Virgin Island Motors Ltd is commemorating six decades of business this week with several activities, culminating in a community block party from 5pm on Friday June 19th at its Flagship Store in Duffs Bottom. The event promises to be an evening of food, entertainment, family fun and giveaways and will feature live entertainment by the Razor Blades and DJ Wiz.
Managing Director Allan Parker invited the general public to come join in the celebration of this grand milestone. Parker, the son of the company’s founder Keithley Parker, recently reflected on the company’s humble beginnings while noting how far it has come.
“My parents bought this place in 1966 for $600. $600 for this acre of land”, he said. “he started as a garage in 1966. From then we’ve evolved. We’ve done a lot of things and if you come on Friday, we’ll be able to tell you much more about it.”
VI Motors expanded into a gas station before securing a National Car Rental franchise and a General Motors dealership in 1977. The company later added Daihatsu vehicles in 1984 before expanding into Honda and other automotive services.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Parker credited his father’s business philosophy for helping the company thrive despite growing competition.
“My father taught, do the work, don’t look at the money. Never look at the money. Do the work. Look after the customers, look after the employees and the business will grow”, he said.
Parker said reaching a second generation of ownership is a significant accomplishment, noting that many family businesses struggle to survive across generations.
Looking ahead, he revealed that VI Motors plans to expand its offerings by introducing Chinese vehicle brands to the local market.
The company has already signed with Foton Motor to distribute trucks and is finalising plans to introduce a Chinese SUV brand, with a launch targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Parker believes the move is necessary as consumer preferences continue to evolve.
He also encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to invest in learning before launching a business, recommending they attend industry trade shows to gain knowledge on marketing, technology, succession planning and other aspects of running a successful enterprise.
The public is also encouraged to learn more about VI Motors’ story though the company’s commemorative docuseries released to its Facebook page and all 284Media Platforms.