PASADENA, Calif. — A murky sales climate didn't prevent one of the stores in the Rusnak Auto Group from again winning a top award from one of the luxury brands it sells.

Rusnak Arcadia Mercedes-Benz was presented with the 2009 "Best of the Best" Dealer Recognition Award, an honor group executives said was reserved for the top 15 percent of Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country.

According to the automaker, the award recognizes superior performance in customer satisfaction, new-vehicle sales, certified pre-owned sales, leadership and management, parts operations and market penetration.

The group's Arcadia dealership now has claimed this award for the eighth time in the past nine years.

"We're excited about winning this award again, especially in the face of what was a challenging year for so many in our business," noted general manager Brian Beatt.

"It's a testament to the associates of this dealership and their dedication to creating the best vehicle purchase and ownership experience available," Beatt added.

Ernst Lieb, president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, further highlighted the prestige of the award Rusnak Arcadia Mercedes-Benz earned yet again.

"These dealers represent the essence of the Mercedes-Benz brand — an enduring commitment to excellence combined with an entrepreneurial spirit and absolute dedication to customer satisfaction," Lieb emphasized.

"These dealers who believe, as we do, that the ultimate measure of success is not only business acumen but also meeting the expectations of each and every customer every time — no exceptions," he continued.

The Rusnak Auto Group has been in operation for 44 years in the Los Angeles area. The group has franchise dealerships in Westlake, Pasadena and Arcadia selling Audi, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls Royce and Volvo brands.