8:38 am, August 26, 2026
Bosses at the family-run Williams Motor Group have hailed the retailer’s ‘resilient performance’ in 2025, despite a small dip in profits.
Accounts recently filed via Companies House show that Williams Motor Co. (Holdings) Limited made a pre-tax profit of £9.7m in the 12 months to the end of December 2025.
While the result represents a 3% drop on 2024’s £10m profit, directors remain pleased with the outcome, in the face of ‘continued inflationary pressures, increases in employment costs and a challenging trading environment’.
The firm’s EBITDA – the measure by which the Car Dealer Top 100 is ranked – also fell from £15.3m to £14.4m.
Despite this, there was still plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the Bolton-based firm, with turnover rising 6.2% from £577.2m to £612.8m.
This was aided by a strong used car performance, which saw revenue from second-hand vehicles increase by 20.4% to £308.7m, with both volumes and profitability improving during the year.
Corporate vehicle sales also performed strongly, rising 18.4%, although new retail vehicle activity fell and margins across all of the group’s brands came under pressure as supply levels improved.
Bosses added that Mini sales remained ‘stable’ despite the brand’s switch to an agency model, with Land Rover volumes also holding firm, despite the impact of 2025’s cyberattack on JLR.
Elsewhere, Williams significantly strengthened its balance sheet during the year, despite the lower profits.
Net debt fell 41.8% from £38m to £22.1m, primarily because of lower vehicle funding levels, while net assets rose 6% to £93.5m.
Reflecting on the period, managing director William Adams said: ‘Within the premium market, BMW retained its leading position, whilst Mini volumes remained stable during the transition to the agency sales model.
Land Rover volumes remained robust despite the disruption caused by the cyberattack during the year.
‘The used vehicle market remained resilient throughout 2025, although aftersales trading conditions across the sector became more challenging due to reduced warranty activity and continuing cost inflation.
‘Against this backdrop, the company delivered turnover growth of 6.2% to £612.8m (2024: £577.2m), supported by strong used vehicle performance and growth in corporate vehicle sales.
‘Used vehicle turnover increased by 20.4% to £308.7m, with volumes and profitability both improving during the year.
‘Corporate vehicle sales also performed strongly, increasing by 18.4% compared with the prior year. New retail vehicle activity reduced during the year and margins across all brands remained under pressure as supply levels improved across the market.
‘Aftersales performance softened compared with the exceptionally strong levels achieved in recent years, reflecting lower warranty activity and continuing inflationary cost pressures, although the business continued to benefit from strong customer retention and disciplined operational processes.’
He added: ‘The directors are pleased to report a resilient performance for the company during 2025 despite continued inflationary pressures, increases in employment costs and a challenging trading environment across the UK automotive sector.’
What else is in the accounts?
Throughout the year. Williams’ average workforce fell slightly from 829 employees to 821 but staffing costs still rose from £36.6m to £37.7m.
At the same time, directors’ remuneration increased from £941,000 to £986,000, with the highest-paid director receiving £719,000, up from £684,000 in 2024.
Overall, the firm paid shareholders £1.67m in dividends during the year, down from £2.03m in 2024. Directors also recommended a further £4.50-per-share final dividend, payable in July 2026.
Elsewhere, Williams told two surplus Upper Brook Street properties in Manchester for £16m, although the deals were not completed until after the year end and will therefore be included in the 2026 results.
Williams also bought its previously leased Stockport bodyshop during the year.
The accounts also confirm Williams’ new Geely partnership in the North West, although bosses did admit that trading in early 2026 has been ‘more challenging than anticipated’.