Already the largest collection of new car dealerships in the southern hemisphere, Essendon Fields has just opened a new Holden facility, taking the number of new car dealerships in one location in Melbourne’s north-west to 16, covering 21 different brands.

The newly opened Essendon Holden by PM Automotive Group is one of the largest Holden dealerships in Australia, and follows the recent additions of Jaguar, Land Rover and BMW to Essendon Fields’ Wirraway Road dealership strip.

The addition of these new brands has facilitated marked sales growth at Essendon Fields, bucking the national trend. In the last week of June 469 new car sales were recorded at Essendon Fields – an all-time record for the precinct.

Essendon Fields CEO, Brendan Pihan welcomed Holden to Essendon Fields and announced the automotive hub sold 20,000 vehicles in the last financial year, a rise of 10 per cent on a year earlier and at a time when new car sales across Australia were generally declining.

“While this is a great stand-alone result, it’s part of a steady trend we have observed this calendar year,” Mr Pihan said.

“The sales growth clearly illustrates the public’s love of convenience and ease. The story of the growth and development of Essendon Fields automotive precinct since it opened in 2008 is quite remarkable. Over 130,000 cars have been sold and its total area now covers more than 24 hectares,” he said.

The new 1,078 sqm Holden showroom, worth $8million also features a 1,336 sqm service workshop, providing a one-stop shop for Holden owners, just off the Tullamarine Freeway.

David Buttner, Chairman and Managing Director of GM Holden said he was excited that Australia’s most iconic automotive brand has joined the car brands at Essendon Fields.

“Essendon Holden at Essendon Fields will play a vital role in the future of Holden in Australia. Our customers can enjoy a first-class experience in this state-of-the-art facility in one of the country’s foremost automotive precincts,” he said.

Essendon Fields 16 dealerships include two of the Nation’s largest automotive groups – Automotive Holdings Group and IDOM Group Automotive which collectively represent 11 of Essendon Fields 21 major car brands.

IDOM group cited the easily accessible location as a key factor in their decision to invest in opening dealerships at Essendon Fields. Pasquale Sarchurchio, Dealer Principal at IDOM Group’s Airport Toyota dealership said: “Our Dealership was one of the first to make the move to Essendon Fields. For us the decision was based on the location’s ease and accessibility. Over 10 years on and moving our business here continues to go from strength to strength.”

The new Holden showroom is the final dealership to relocate from the former auto strip on Keilor Road and occupies one of Essendon Fields’ last remaining automotive sites along Wirraway Road.