MTA Queensland member, Eagers Automotive, has secured a long-term lease with AMP Capital to develop Australia’s first shopping centre based Automall at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in Brisbane’s western suburbs.

Up to 30 specialty stores including Nike, Kathmandu, and City Beach have been relocated and a section of Myer has been ceded to make room for the groundbreaking two-level showroom and service centre.

AutoMall West will offer a range of car brands in a one-stop destination for new and used vehicle purchasing, servicing and maintenance.

The 2400sqm showroom will feature 35 cars on display from at least eight brands, of which Porsche is the first to be confirmed.

AMP Capital head of Retail and Investments Marco Ettorre said the partnership with Eagers Automotive was another step in the evolution of shopping centres from a fashion and department store focus to become more “customer experience” oriented.

“What the customer telling us is that they want to come to the shopping centre of the future for an experience and we’re excited to partner with Eagers Automotive in this first within Australia,” he said.

On the top level of AutoMall West will be a 12-bay, 850sqm rooftop service facility, with customer drop-off and pick-up within the existing shopping centre car park. This will provide convenience for customers, allowing them to get their car services within a brand approved workshop while they shop.

The showroom has been created to blend seamlessly with the surrounding shops, and even include a children’s playground and café.

“After over 100 years the automotive customer experience is changing. The days of shopping for a car in a sunbaked car-yard at an auto-alley is now no longer the only purchasing experience a customer has available to them.”

“Buyers want choice, comfort and convenience – an experience that a shopping centre can provide.”

Customers looking for second-hand vehicles will be able to browse thousands of used vehicles through Eagers Automotive’s Easy Auto 123 National Used Car Brand. Easyauto123 may also facilitate the purchasing process for customers looking to sell their cars outright.

Eagers Automotive chief operating officer Keith Thornton said the AutoMall West will complement AutoMall Brisbane which is currently being built next to Brisbane Airport.

“This is giving people a full-blown experience,” he said.

“We’re evolving from the old way of one size fits all showroom in every six suburbs. By bringing our car sales operation into the familiarity of a shopping centre environment, we’re simply evolving our offering to provide more choice and convenience.”

“What we’re doing is [letting] customers discover and engage with our brands before they’re actually in the market. They might be 12 months away from buying a new car but they’re in the shopping centre looking and getting excited about brand X and understand they can transact with us in a place they are familiar with.”

The AutoMall West is expected to open in December 2021.

Source: The Courier Mail | AMP Capital, AP Eagers to create AutoMall at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre

10 February 2021