DUTTON One has become the latest dealer group to establish a retail operation at Essendon Fields Auto, opening a pre-owned prestige vehicle showroom set on 2044 square metres.

Dutton One dealer principal Jai Patel said the new dealership will be a great success based on its prominent location on Lionel Street and visibility from the Tullamarine freeway which attracts more than three million cars each month. 

“We can already see the benefits of being part of the Essendon Fields community, not just for the people who visit EF Auto from Melbourne’s north-west, but for the thousands of people who work here every day, who run their own successful businesses and love the environment in which they work,’’ he said.

(L-R): Blanco Norton, Legacy Project Management; Will Fuller, Legacy Project Management; James Adams, Essendon Fields; Matt Jeffers, H Troon; Adam Boyce, H Troon; Peter Funder, Essendon Fields; Suren Chandrajit, Dutton One; and Tony Tripodi, CBRE.

The official opening of Dutton One included a few stars from the Essendon Football Club, including Jobe Watson, captain Zach Merrett and Mason Redman.

Project partners were also in attendance, including leasing partner CBRE, builders H. Troon, development manager Legacy Project Management, and the Essendon Fields project team.

Essendon Fields GM of development Peter Funder said that the newly constructed Dutton One dealership provides a great customer experience with its natural light and space.

“The Dutton One dealership adds to the auto mall concept at Essendon Fields, which we know is best for both dealers and consumers alike,” he said.

“Deloitte research shows that car buying customers are happy to travel up to 45 minutes to find the make and model car they are looking for at the best price possible. 

“That equates to about four million people, or 80 per cent of Melbourne’s population, who are willing to travel to EF Auto to grab their new set of wheels.”

Essendon Fields Auto will also welcome Zagame Automotive which will open new Audi and Cupra dealerships early next year.

The new Audi and Cupra showrooms under construction will occupy more than 1400 square metres and are supported by a 2400 square metre vehicle servicing garage that will serve the two brands and their customers. 

All showroom and service areas have been designed to cater for electric vehicles, including access to fast charging stations on-site. 

Construction has started on the two new dealerships, which will service Melbourne’s fast growing north-western region, and are expected to be completed in early 2025.

Essendon Fields Auto already has 18 car dealerships, representing the largest single site collection of dealerships in the southern hemisphere, and the new Audi and Cupra dealerships will occupy one of the last remaining development sites in the successful dealer precinct.

In 2023 Essendon Fields Auto continued its ongoing year on year sales growth, selling over 21,000 cars for the second consecutive year – with an estimated value of almost $1 billion.