8:59 am, October 8, 2026
Group 1 Automotive’s UK division saw its losses double to more than £50m last year, as the dealer group continues to restructure its network.
The US giant has invested millions into growing its footprint on this side of the Atlantic over recent years but accounts recently filed via Companies House would suggest that profitability remains some way off.
According to the documents, Group 1 Automotive UK Limited made a pre-tax loss of £52.03m in the 12 months to the end of last December, following a £26.16m loss in 2024.
The slump comes amid rising costs across the business, with the accounts showing that £16.5m was spent on restructuring activity alone, while also booking impairment charges of £17.4m.
The year saw Group 1 announce its decision to axe JLR from its list of brand partners, which contributed to the firm’s dealer network shrinking from 114 sites to 109 overall.
Despite this, turnover actually rose, aided by increased new and used car sales.
The accounts show that the firm generated £4.51bn in revenue throughout the year, up more than 40% on 2024’s £3.23bn.
Meanwhile the firm shifted 56,234 new and 85,067 used cars to retail customers, up from 43,026 and 59,706 respectively, with gross margins improving from 13.39% to 13.66%.
Reflecting on the current state of the market, director Daniel McHenry said in the accounts: ‘The UK automotive market in 2026 continues to operate within a challenging macroeconomic environment, characterised by elevated interest rates, cost inflation and evolving consumer demand dynamics.’
He added: ‘After accounting for restructuring costs and impairments, the UK Group reported a statutory loss-before-tax of £52.0m.
‘The increase in interest costs from £35.5m in 2024 to £57.6m in 2025 is reflected in the loss before tax.
‘After excluding restructuring costs and impairments, underlying operating performance improved year-on-year, supported by the first full year contribution from acquired businesses and the early benefits of integration initiatives.’
Elsewhere, despite the group continuing to cut dealerships following its 2024 spending spree, staff numbers continued to grow.
The accounts show that Group 1 employed an average of 7,032 UK employees in 2025, compared to 5,246 in 2024, with technician headcount increasing from 1,512 to 1,628.
Meanwhile, staff costs overall came in at an increased £379,85, while directors remuneration dropped from £1.45m to £885,000.
The directors did not recommend the payment of a dividend.