Retail car supermarket for Lower Hutt

A retail car supermarket described as the first in Australasia will be located in Lower Hutt on Pito-One Road by the Korokoro overbridge.

The car retail centre is being established by Car Giant and buyers will use golf carts to inspect the more than 750 vehicles on sale.

The Car Giant yard will incorporate the former British Motor Company car assembly buildings off Hutt Road, Petone, as show rooms.

The Mayor of Lower Hutt, Ray Wallace said the decision by Car Giant to establish their sales centre in Lower Hutt will be a further boost to the local economy providing the largest single used car site in New Zealand.

“Car Giant is expecting to employ between 40 and 60 part-time and full-time staff and a team of car groomers,” he said.

“Combined with existing dealerships and second hand retail car sales outlets, Lower Hutt will be a magnet for people wishing to buy a vehicle. This in turn will boost ancillary services and business for the whole area.

"The site is high profile and there are plans to upgrade the iconic historic former Austin car factory and to light up the building.”

The General Manager of Car Giant, Rex Howard, said the company was setting out to offer real value with no risk. “Our target will be the no-haggle private buyers who are seeking vehicles at a good price.“

Car Giant is a supermarket offering best value prices with a wide range of choice,” Mr Howard said.

The vehicle retail centre is expected to open its outdoor yard by the end of the month with 550 vehicles and will progressively upgrade the old factory buildings by Christmas of this year.

“There are other car supermarkets in the United States and Great Britain, but this will be the first in Australasia,” he said.