HAMMERSON TEMPTS SHOPPERS WITH TESLAS

BULLRING owner Hammerson is selling Tesla and Mercedes cars in an effort to boost declining visitors to its shopping centres.

Hammerson, which also owns the Metrocentre in Gateshead and Lakeside in Essex, has sold 2,000 cars over the past year by renting out shop space to brands which also include Rolls-Royce and Porsche.

The property firm has even started offering test drives to potential buyers and driving lessons for younger customers on the rooftops of some of its shopping centres.

Hammerson suggested that it could eventually use excess space in its centres for maintenance and servicing, so that customers can get an MOT on their car while shopping.

Mark Bourgeois, managing director for UK & Ireland at Hammerson, said: ‘We expect this to be a real growth area for us over the coming years.’

It came as data firm Springboard revealed a 2pc drop in footfall at bricks-and-mortar stores last month.