Lidl to sell cars online

This initiative aims to boost car sales in the country by offering a €2,500 premium towards buying a new car and scrapping vehicles more than nine years old.

Launched on Monday, the retailer offers an Opel Corsa for €10,295 and a Volkswagen Cross Polo for €13,160, both at a discount of 26% to 27% off the suggested retail price.

 Germany's economy is in recession and unemployment is at 8.3%, but Lidl believes it can turn a profit in an industry that is bucking the economic downturn.

New car sales were up 21% in February year-on-year, largely because of a government stimulus plan that pays people 2,500 euros (£2,300) to replace cars at least nine years old with new ones.