Malls to become motor shows, service centres
AMP Capital and Eagers Automotive have signed an Australian first agreement which will see car showrooms and service centres replace retail space, parking and rooftops at shopping complexes.
The pair’s AutoMall West will launch at Brisbane’s Indooroopilly Shopping Centre by December.
It will include a 2400 square metre new vehicle showroom which will sell about eight makes (Porsche is one).
Above that will be a service centre connected to a rooftop drop-off facility.
Another tenancy will sell second hand cars using the retailer’s easyauto123 brand.
Eagers is building AutoMall BNE next to Brisbane Airport.
The pair is intending to open at more shopping centres.
Green light is for…
AutoMall West is designed with 12 maintenance bays.
Eagers is also offering a quick-service product allowing owners to have cars tuned in two hours (or “while they shop”).
Customers will need to book online.
Test drives and delivery can also be arranged there (story continues below).
The Public Designed Group project will include a children’s playground and café.
“We know that what customers are looking for in a car shopping experience has changed,” Eagers chief operating officer Keith Thornton said.
“By bringing our car sales operations into the familiarity of a shopping centre environment, we’re simply modernising our offering,” he added.
“Its an Australian first that we couldn’t be more excited about”.
Future of car sales, retail, come together: AMP
AMP head of retail investment, Marco Ettore, added the Eagers partnership is an example of “responding to customer feedback and the changing nature of shopping centres”.
“This partnership is a coming together of the future of car sales and the future of retail,” according to the executive.
“We know from our research that customers are seeking a broader offer beyond the traditional retail mix when visiting their local shopping centre.
“This includes new experiences, a broader mix of services and stores with a greater level of convenience.
“The AutoMall West at Indooroopilly is just one of the new exciting usages that we are creating that customers will come to expect in the shopping centre of the future,” he added.
Indooroopilly Shopping Centre is managed for AMP Capital Shopping Centre Fund, AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund and Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation – the latter which owns landmark Melbourne office 101 Collins Street.
