Eagers Automotive
Corporate brand
UnclaimedEagers Automotive is an Australian and New Zealand automotive retail group operating vehicle dealerships and related retail, servicing, parts, finance, protection and property businesses.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Eagers Automotive is one of the long-established automotive retail groups serving Australia and New Zealand. Its origins date to 1913, when Edward George Eager established E.G. Eager & Son Limited. The business initially operated in Queensland and subsequently expanded from vehicle sales into manufacturing, distribution and dealership operations. In 1922 it opened an automobile assembly plant in Queensland, and in 1930 secured distribution rights for General Motors products in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Those developments helped establish the company as an important participant in the early motor industry in Australia. The company became a public business in 1957 under the name Eagers Holdings Limited. A major structural change came in 1992, when Eagers Holdings merged with A.P. Group Limited. A.P. Group had been founded as A.P. Motors by Alan Piper in 1978. Following the merger, the combined company adopted the name A.P. Eagers Limited, combining the historical Eagers identity with the newer A.P. Group business. Eagers later developed into a broad automotive retail platform rather than a single- marque sales operation. Its car-retailing activities cover the sale of new and used vehicles, vehicle maintenance and repair, parts, extended service contracts, brokerage and vehicle protection products. The group also operates in truck retailing, providing similar sales and after-sales functions for commercial vehicles. Its property activities support the dealership network through the acquisition and management of commercial properties associated with automotive retail operations. The business has also held investments in automotive and adjacent service companies, including DealerMotive, Automotive Holdings Group, Smartgroup Corporation and Dealercell Holdings. The acquisition of Automotive Holdings Group in 2019 was a defining expansion. Automotive Holdings Group was a major competitor, and its purchase materially increased Eagers' dealership footprint and operating scale. In 2020, after the acquisition, the company changed its legal and trading name from A.P. Eagers Limited to Eagers Automotive Limited. The renamed group presented itself as a large multi-brand automotive retailer operating across Australia and New Zealand. Eagers' role during the COVID-19 period became controversial. In February 2021, the company said it would not repay approximately A$130 million received through the Australian Federal Government's JobKeeper wage-support program, despite reporting a profit. Management argued that the payments supported approximately 6,500 employees and helped preserve about 2,000 jobs while the automotive industry was under severe pressure. The decision attracted public criticism because the company subsequently reported accelerated profits, making the use and retention of the subsidy a prominent corporate-governance issue associated with the group. The company was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2011, reflecting its long operating history in the state. In July 2025, Eagers Automotive was appointed the main Australian retailer for BYD Auto, adding a significant electric-vehicle and new-energy-vehicle brand to its retail portfolio. Its business model remains centred on operating dealerships, supporting vehicle ownership through servicing and parts, and using property and investment activities to reinforce its automotive retail network.
History
Eagers Automotive traces its beginnings to 1913, when Edward George Eager founded E.G. Eager & Son Limited. The enterprise emerged during the formative period of motorisation in Australia and built its early base in Queensland. In 1922, it opened an automobile assembly plant in the state, demonstrating an involvement in the motor industry that extended beyond simple vehicle sales. In 1930, it obtained distribution rights for General Motors products in Queensland and northern New South Wales. This distribution relationship gave the company an important regional role in the supply and sale of motor vehicles. The business entered the public markets in 1957 as Eagers Holdings Limited. Its later development was shaped by corporate combination. In 1992, Eagers Holdings merged with A.P. Group Limited, a company founded as A.P. Motors by Alan Piper in 1978. The merged business was renamed A.P. Eagers Limited. This name linked the historic Eagers business with the A.P. Group organization and became the identity under which the company expanded as an automotive retail group. Over time, the company moved toward a diversified dealership model. Its operations came to include new and used car sales, truck retailing, vehicle maintenance and repair, parts, extended service contracts, brokerage and vehicle-protection products. The group also developed a property segment focused on commercial properties associated with dealerships and maintained investments in automotive and adjacent businesses. This combination allowed it to participate in several stages of the vehicle ownership cycle rather than depending solely on the initial sale of a new vehicle. A major expansion occurred in 2019, when A.P. Eagers acquired Automotive Holdings Group, described as its major competitor. The transaction increased the size and geographic reach of the dealership platform across Australia and New Zealand. In 2020, the company changed its name from A.P. Eagers Limited to Eagers Automotive Limited. The new name more directly expressed its position as a broad automotive retail group rather than a company identified primarily with its historical corporate initials. Eagers' public profile also rose during the COVID-19 pandemic because of its use of the Australian Government's JobKeeper wage-support program. In February 2021, the company stated that it would not repay approximately A$130 million in JobKeeper payments, even though it had reported a profit. Its position was that the payments had helped retain approximately 6,500 employees and protect about 2,000 jobs while the automotive sector was under considerable pressure. The decision became controversial because the company subsequently recorded accelerated profits, creating debate over whether profitable companies should return government wage subsidies received during the crisis. The company's long connection with Queensland was recognised when it was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2011. Its later strategy continued to involve multi-brand retailing and expansion into emerging vehicle categories. In July 2025, Eagers Automotive was appointed the main Australian retailer for BYD Auto. That appointment added a prominent electric-vehicle manufacturer to its retail activities and aligned the dealership group with the growth of electrified vehicles in the Australian market. Eagers Automotive now operates across Australia and New Zealand through car and truck retailing, after-sales support, parts and related vehicle services. Its property and investment activities complement the dealership business. The company is therefore best understood as a corporate automotive-retail platform, not as a single vehicle marque or manufacturer.
- 2025
Appointed main Australian BYD retailer
[1]Eagers Automotive was appointed the main Australian retailer for BYD Auto.
- 2021
JobKeeper retention controversy
[1]The company said it would retain approximately A$130 million received through JobKeeper, citing employment protection during the pandemic.
- 2020
Renamed Eagers Automotive
[1]The company changed its name from A.P. Eagers Limited to Eagers Automotive Limited following the Automotive Holdings Group acquisition.
- 2019
Automotive Holdings Group acquired
[1]A.P. Eagers acquired major competitor Automotive Holdings Group.
- 2011
Inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame
[1]The company was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
- 1992
Merger with A.P. Group
[1]Eagers Holdings merged with A.P. Group Limited and became A.P. Eagers Limited.
- 1957
Company became publicly listed
[1]The company went public under the name Eagers Holdings Limited.
- 1930
General Motors distribution rights obtained
[1]The business obtained distribution rights for General Motors products in Queensland and northern New South Wales.
- 1922
Queensland automobile assembly plant opened
[1]The company opened an automobile assembly plant in Queensland.
- 1913
E.G. Eager & Son founded
[1]Edward George Eager founded the business that became the historical base of Eagers Automotive.
Products and positioning
A large, multi-brand automotive retailer and dealership operator serving Australia and New Zealand, with revenue activities spanning new and used vehicle sales, truck retailing, after-sales services, parts, vehicle-related protection products and dealership property.
Automotive retail
New vehicle retailing
Eagers Automotive operates dealerships that sell new vehicles from multiple manufacturers. Its role is primarily retail and distribution rather than vehicle production, with dealerships providing customer sales, delivery and related vehicle-protection or service products.
Automotive retail
Used vehicle retailing
Used-vehicle sales form part of the group's car-retailing activities. This business complements new-vehicle dealerships and gives customers access to pre-owned vehicles alongside associated brokerage, protection and after-sales services.
Commercial vehicle retail
Truck retailing
The truck-retailing segment sells commercial vehicles and provides related support. Its activities include new and used vehicle sales, maintenance and repair, parts and other services connected with commercial vehicle ownership.
Automotive services
After-sales services and parts
The group provides vehicle maintenance and repair through its dealership network and sells automotive parts. These services extend the customer relationship beyond the initial vehicle transaction and support ongoing vehicle operation.
Electric-vehicle retail · 2025
BYD Auto retailing
From 2025, Eagers Automotive was appointed the main Australian retailer for BYD Auto. The appointment gives the group a significant retail role for BYD vehicles in Australia, including the manufacturer's electric and new-energy vehicle range.
Controversies
2021
Retention of JobKeeper payments
Eagers Automotive said it would not repay approximately A$130 million received under the Australian Government's JobKeeper program. The company argued that the payments helped support approximately 6,500 employees and preserve about 2,000 jobs during severe pressure on the automotive industry. The decision drew criticism because the company had posted a profit and later reported accelerated profits.
Brand decisions
2025
Appointment as main Australian BYD retailerStrategyBackground
BYD Auto was expanding its presence in the Australian vehicle market, particularly in electric and new-energy vehicles.
Action taken
Eagers Automotive was appointed the main Australian retailer for BYD Auto.
Aftermath
The appointment expanded Eagers' retail portfolio into a prominent electric-vehicle brand.
2021
Decision to retain JobKeeper supportOtherBackground
The automotive industry was under severe pressure during the COVID-19 period. Eagers had received approximately A$130 million through the Australian Government's JobKeeper wage-support program.
Action taken
The company said it would not repay the JobKeeper payments, stating that the funds had helped support employees and preserve jobs.
Aftermath
The decision became a public controversy because the company had reported a profit and subsequently recorded accelerated profits.
JobKeeper payments received. Approximately A$130 million retained (2021)
2020
Rebranding as Eagers AutomotiveStrategyBackground
Following the acquisition of Automotive Holdings Group, the company had a larger and more geographically extensive automotive retail platform.
Action taken
The company changed its name from A.P. Eagers Limited to Eagers Automotive Limited.
Aftermath
The new identity positioned the company as a broad automotive retail group operating in Australia and New Zealand.
2019
Acquisition of Automotive Holdings GroupM&ABackground
Automotive Holdings Group was a major competitor in automotive retail, and its acquisition offered Eagers a way to expand its dealership network and operating scale.
Action taken
A.P. Eagers acquired Automotive Holdings Group.
Aftermath
The enlarged business operated across Australia and New Zealand and adopted the Eagers Automotive name in 2020.
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